CRESTVIEW — The Iron Order Motorcycle Club of Crestview and the Families First Network present the first Poker Run on Sunday, commemorating National Child Abuse Prevention month.
The ride begins at 10 a.m. at the Hooters restaurant near the Interstate 10 Crestview exit. It ends at 4 p.m. at the Wings of Fire restaurant, 397 E. James Lee Blvd., where the motorcycle club regularly meets.
Participants — who don’t need a motorcycle; a car is fine — will stop at several Okaloosa and Walton County locations, Carrie Lawson, a family support worker for Families First, said. At each stop, participants can purchase five random, traditional playing cards, $10 each, at locations in Niceville, Freeport and DeFuniak Springs. Cards will also be available at Crestview's starting and ending points.
Proceeds will benefit the Families First Network of Lakeview, particularly its Crestview and DeFuniak Springs locations.
When the ride finishes at Wings of Fire, riders with the best and worst hands of cards will get prizes, Lawson said.
Businesses in both counties have donated prizes totaling an estimated $5,000, Culbertson said. Raffle prizes include free massages, buffalo wing platters and free tattoos.
The Families First Network — contracted by the Florida Department of Children and Families — offers utility bill assistance and necessities like gas and diapers for needy families.
"We are absolutely blessed to be receiving (the Iron Order’s) generosity," said Mary Culbertson, a counselor at Families First in Crestview. "They came to us wanting to better serve the community by helping the families and children in our care."
Want to go?
The Iron Order Motorcycle Club’s Poker Run, supporting Families First Network, is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Hooters, 180 Cracker Barrel Road. The ride will finish at 4 p.m.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Poker Run on Sunday begins in Crestview; benefits Families First