BROOKINGS Sure, motorcycles can be loud at times, but all that noise does more than attract attention to their riders it also shines a light on the 727th DAV Poker Run, a 21-year-strong tradition in Brookings that is of immense benefit to South Dakota veterans.
Saturdays event drew hundreds of participants and raised an estimated $58,000 for the Disabled American Veterans Hospital Transportation Network, organizer Bob Foster told the Brookings Register. That will be added to the $507,000 the poker run has raised over the past 20 years.
He estimated that 650 people took part in the event, and the money they raised was slightly more than the $57,000 total from last year, when there were 729 participants.
Numbers were down, but donations were up. I’m still really pleased with the participation we had, Foster said.
People came from all over the region to take part, and all to lend a hand in getting veterans to their medical appointments.
Im here to support the disabled veterans with the rest of the guys, Ken Hallquist of Milbank said, adding that it was his first time at the event. Im part of the Christian Motorcycle Association. I learned of the poker run from them.
Hallquist, who came with a CMA group, said he was a disabled veteran himself, having served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq in 1990-91.
It was something that I wanted to come and support, he said of the poker run. Im glad to be here, glad to support a good cause.
Hallquists sentiments were seconded by Brookings resident Austin Conrad.
Im here to support veterans. This is my first year I got wind of it and I thought it would be awesome to come out here with all of the other people and support our veterans, he said.
Moving through the crowd prior to the poker run on a kind-of-sunny morning with pleasant temperatures, one could see a lot of smiles, laughter and conversation, along with the occasional bear hug or two. Strangers? These folks most certainly were not, and there were hundreds of them mixing and milling about.
That spirit was reflected in other commentary from the poker run.
I just come out here every year to ride my motorcycle and have fun, Katherine Scott of Sinai said.
Tim Scott, also of Sinai, agreed. Ride motorcycles and raise money for a good cause, he said, adding that this is the 10th year hes taken part in the poker run. Im always willing to raise money for stuff.
And that mentality, folks, is why the 727th DAV Poker Run sees success year after year in Brookings, along with the stops in the other participating communities of Flandreau, Madison, Arlington and Estelline.
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