HARRISBURG ILLINOIS- The Die Hard Bikers Organization will be benefiting schools this year with its annual August poker run.
The group of motorcycle enthusiasts schedule a ride every Sunday for lunch and throughout the year hold several charity fund-raisers. Those charities have included St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, for individuals' medical bills, nursing homes and food pantries. This year the group is looking to help out Saline and Gallatin County schools in the state mandated purchase of a heart defibrillator for every building.
The financial strain on the schools is important to Brett Sullivan, editor of the Die Hard Bikers' newsletter, whose children attend in Harrisburg.
"They got a mandate to pay for these somehow. They cut funds here, there and everywhere," Sullivan said.
The defibrillators cost around $20,000 each and in a few years all school districts in the state will need one available in every building.
"It just kind of touches close to home," Sullivan said.
Organizers plan to split the money raised in the poker run between the school districts.
The poker run sign up is noon Aug. 20 at Cherry Street Bar and Grill. The first bikes leave at 1 p.m. and the last returns at 6 p.m. The route is not the same as in previous years.
"This time it's a totally different run. We've involved a different group of people and other stops," Sullivan said.
The route goes to Marion, Benton, McLeansboro, Carmi and back to Harrisburg for a total of 122 miles. At Cherry Street Bar and Grill the participants are given a list of the scheduled stops at various taverns and there are alternative stops for people who don't want to go into a tavern.
At each of the five stops the riders draw a card and at the end the person with the best poker hand wins. The top hand gets $1,000, second gets $250 and third gets $100. Sullivan said the prize money comes from selling advertisement space on the sheets so there is almost no overhead cost. At the stops there will be snacks and beverages.
The poker run concept is a popular one. Last year's run brought 600 people, Sullivan said, raising $10,000 for area senior citizens. The chance to win $1,000 is a chance few local bikers can resist. A poker run is also a good opportunity for new bikers.
"Some are not comfortable riding by themselves and they want to ride with a group of people. They don't know where to find a nice scenic ride and think it would be nice to get a motorcycle group out together," Sullivan said.
There will be several events going on at Cherry Street Bar and Grill. Eldorado Elementary School Principal Steve Nelson is helping in the effort to get a defibrillator at his school with a free performance by his rock band Southbound.
There will be raffles of items donated by businesses, a 50/50 drawing, a ride-in bike show and vendors.
Businesses that would like to donate money or goods for the raffle may contact Brett Sullivan at 841-9327, Mike Duncan at 926-3862 or Zack Gibbons at 926-2822.
The group of motorcycle enthusiasts schedule a ride every Sunday for lunch and throughout the year hold several charity fund-raisers. Those charities have included St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, for individuals' medical bills, nursing homes and food pantries. This year the group is looking to help out Saline and Gallatin County schools in the state mandated purchase of a heart defibrillator for every building.
The financial strain on the schools is important to Brett Sullivan, editor of the Die Hard Bikers' newsletter, whose children attend in Harrisburg.
"They got a mandate to pay for these somehow. They cut funds here, there and everywhere," Sullivan said.
The defibrillators cost around $20,000 each and in a few years all school districts in the state will need one available in every building.
"It just kind of touches close to home," Sullivan said.
Organizers plan to split the money raised in the poker run between the school districts.
The poker run sign up is noon Aug. 20 at Cherry Street Bar and Grill. The first bikes leave at 1 p.m. and the last returns at 6 p.m. The route is not the same as in previous years.
"This time it's a totally different run. We've involved a different group of people and other stops," Sullivan said.
The route goes to Marion, Benton, McLeansboro, Carmi and back to Harrisburg for a total of 122 miles. At Cherry Street Bar and Grill the participants are given a list of the scheduled stops at various taverns and there are alternative stops for people who don't want to go into a tavern.
At each of the five stops the riders draw a card and at the end the person with the best poker hand wins. The top hand gets $1,000, second gets $250 and third gets $100. Sullivan said the prize money comes from selling advertisement space on the sheets so there is almost no overhead cost. At the stops there will be snacks and beverages.
The poker run concept is a popular one. Last year's run brought 600 people, Sullivan said, raising $10,000 for area senior citizens. The chance to win $1,000 is a chance few local bikers can resist. A poker run is also a good opportunity for new bikers.
"Some are not comfortable riding by themselves and they want to ride with a group of people. They don't know where to find a nice scenic ride and think it would be nice to get a motorcycle group out together," Sullivan said.
There will be several events going on at Cherry Street Bar and Grill. Eldorado Elementary School Principal Steve Nelson is helping in the effort to get a defibrillator at his school with a free performance by his rock band Southbound.
There will be raffles of items donated by businesses, a 50/50 drawing, a ride-in bike show and vendors.
Businesses that would like to donate money or goods for the raffle may contact Brett Sullivan at 841-9327, Mike Duncan at 926-3862 or Zack Gibbons at 926-2822.
