Desert Storm has arrived. LetÂ’s make this thing work!
For the past eight years the Spring Poker Run has jump started the boating season at Havasu. For the first time in its history, the run has been accepted and received by even its harshest critics. In short, the poker run has “arrived” and is now a nationally-recognized event.
However, few people realize the challenges we face in staging this event every year. Since the time it was started in 99Â’, the primary goals of this event were to create a special experience for our participants, and to enable us to give back to our communities by raising money for charity. Fast forward to 2007 and we feel great about how the event has grown, and we still raise a fair amount of money for our charity - but it could be much better!
There are 200 participant boats, but we estimate the poker run draws literally tens of thousands of spectators. Over the course of the past three years and thru poker run registrations, we have raised about $18,000 for charity. While that number is huge to our charity, itÂ’s still small in comparison to how many people enjoy this event.
LetÂ’s change that. This is where everybody who enjoys the poker run can help.
For the past several years, LHC resident Karen Gill, thru her military support charity Troops Now and Tomorrow, Inc., has worked tirelessly to assemble those special care packages we have all become familiar with. The difference is, Karen is very good at what she does. In fact, she was recognized by People magazine for her efforts. However, shipping packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan costs money. And while product donations (including 100 ***boat magazines per month from HB) are ample, the cash to ship them is not.
Our poker run seems to have taken on a life of its own, but the reality is, the run was started and continues to be run by a small, core group of regular boaters. We are not a large, corporate giant whose business is promoting poker runs. We have regular jobs, regular boats and families, and work throughout the year to keep this thing going.
This year, as a “thank you” for our efforts, we are asking you to show your appreciation by supporting Troops Now and Tomorrow, Inc..
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