The Garden City Telegram
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Poker run a fundraiser for Red Cross
Published 7/13/2009 in Local News
By MONICA SPRINGER
When a tornado ripped through Greensburg in May 2007, the Red Cross was there. And when firefighters in western Kansas battle grass fires, the Red Cross is there to hand out drinks to those battling the blaze.
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[if "Brad Nading/Telegram — A group of motorcycle enthusiasts make their way south on Campus Drive to begin the Garden City Area Chapter of the American Red Cross' Run for the Red Poker Run Sunday morning. " isnot "nopurchase"]Brad Nading/Telegram — A group of motorcycle enthusiasts make their way south on Campus Drive to begin the Garden City Area Chapter of the American Red Cross' Run for the Red Poker Run Sunday morning.
[if "Brad Nading/Telegram — A motorcyclist and his shadow wave to passersby as he heads south in the 300 block of North Campus Drive Sunday during the start of the Garden City Chapter of the American Red Cross' Run for the Red Poker Run. " isnot "nopurchase"]Click to Purchase Photo Reprints!
[if "Brad Nading/Telegram — A motorcyclist and his shadow wave to passersby as he heads south in the 300 block of North Campus Drive Sunday during the start of the Garden City Chapter of the American Red Cross' Run for the Red Poker Run. " isnot "nopurchase"]Brad Nading/Telegram — A motorcyclist and his shadow wave to passersby as he heads south in the 300 block of North Campus Drive Sunday during the start of the Garden City Chapter of the American Red Cross' Run for the Red Poker Run.
More than 190 southwest Kansans gathered in Garden City on Sunday morning to take part in the Red Cross' annual Run for the Red Poker Run.
People from all over southwest Kansas -- those who have used the Red Cross services and those who have seen the Red Cross help those in need -- rode away from Garden City on their motorcycles to raise money for the cause.
Bruce Foster and Chuck Toner, both of Greensburg, sat at a table under an umbrella after the poker run on Sunday afternoon.
The men said the Red Cross was one of the first organizations that came to town after a tornado destroyed much of Greensburg on May 4, 2007.
"They helped us out," Foster said.
The two men have served on the Red Cross board of directors in Pratt and have taken part in poker runs for the Red Cross in the past.
"It all circles around," Foster said.
The group of bikers gathered at Samy's Steakhouse and Spirits for breakfast on Sunday. Stops included in the poker run included Garden City, Dodge City, Jetmore and Meade. During a poker run, a group of motorcyclists stop at a destination and draw playing cards, and the person with the best poker hand at the end of the run wins.
They returned at 3 p.m. and gathered on the outdoor patio at Samy's, many seeking shade under umbrellas and near the fence.
They wore leather and patriotic clothing, and many had American flags hoisted on the back of their motorcycles.
Carolyn Henry, Garden City Area American Red Cross chapter manager, and Ralph Rojas, board chairman and event chairman for the Red Cross, said the organization serves everyone from the very young to the very old. During the last fiscal year, the Red Cross helped 42 families in southwest Kansas.
The money raised from the poker run will help fund all of the Red Cross' services, including CPR and lifeguard classes, babysitting classes, along with aid the organization gives to those who are left in need from natural disasters or home fires.
While hearing the door prize winners, the participants sipped on water, their bandanas wet with sweat and their skin burned from the sun.
"It's for a good cause," said Maybell Ingland, who came to the poker run with her husband, Richard Ingland. "The Red Cross does a lot for people locally."
The Inglands, who were sitting with Karl Stinemetze, all are from Dodge City and said they enjoy helping the cause and riding. They said they've given blood through the Red Cross, along with Foster and Toner.
Stinemetze said as a retired firefighter, he's seen the Red Cross help victims of house fires and other disasters.
He's also been a recipient of the Red Cross' services, he said. As a firefighter fighting grass fires, it's often hot, excruciating work. And when the Red Cross shows up with refreshments for the firefighters, he said, the relief firefighters feel is tremendous.
"It's that emotional support," Stinemetze said. "It's Kansas — people helping people. In southwest Kansas, we're the type of people who step up and help our neighbors."
Once the poker run was finished, the bikers gathered to hear who won the best hand along with door prize winners.
The door prizes consisted of gift cards to Harley Davidson in Liberal and Dodge City, along with other gift cards and mugs, T-shirts, a $300 gift certificate from L and L Flooring, oil changes from Clark Motor Sports, Kansas City Royals tickets, duffle bags, and more.
Rod Neier, Dodge City, won first place, Curtis McClure, Dodge City, took second place, and Bob Roth, Garden City, took third place.
Henry said the Red Cross is still calculating how much it made from the poker run but said it was a good fundraising event for the organization.
On the Web:
Garden City chapter of the American Red Cross: http://www.gardencityredcross.org/
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