Badlands Poker Run Saturday

WORLAND – On Saturday, people in the community have the chance to explore the area, meet new people and play poker for a cause by participating in the Badlands Poker Run which will be donating proceeds to the Washakie Hospital Foundation.

The Washakie Hospital Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, established 1994 with a cancer fund portion developed in 2014.

Washakie Hospital Badlands Poker Run organizer Keith Van Brunt said this is the fourth Badlands Poker Run with Relay for Life being the benefactor the three previous years.

He said, “When I started it, it was just started to make a hundred dollars or so, but it turned out to be quite a success. It was one of those things where it’s a good sum of money but a real small amount of money when you talk about what Relay for Life or the American Cancer Society make annually on their foundation drive. So, anyway, I figured that this (money) would be better spent if we kept it within the community,” he added.

The money raised for this event will go to the cancer fund portion. “The Badlands Poker Run is actually donating their money to the Washakie Hospital Foundation and the cancer fund part of it. We really want to let people know that these funds are available. And that we are trying to get increased participation and donations. The cancer fund goes to help cancer patients pay for things like travel, lodging, and meals while they have to travel out of town to get their therapy’s or visit their oncologist,” Van Brunt said. “Anyone that’s receiving cancer care or therapy, the foundation will give them this money based on need as a gift. Of course, we can’t pay for any drugs or anything like that or anything that insurance covers but we can help them with the stuff that isn’t wrapped up into the health care or insurance provider’s abilities such as the essentials of housing, food, clothing, travel, and those types of things as it can be quite stressful,” he added.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Rumors in Worland.

“Kick stands up or departure is at 9:30 a.m. Automobiles are welcome to attend. It’s not just a motorcycle event, even though motorcycle enthusiasts actually started it. We want everyone to feel welcome, want the poker run to be more of a community type thing. We want the community to be involved,” Van Brunt said.

The poker run will be stopping at five places. “I’m not publishing the five stops. Highway 20, 26, 789, 287 and 131 with the end point being the Sinks Canyon. The reason why I don’t want to publish it, is because a lot of times we know the route that we need to get to, to care for ourselves, and when we learn the diagnosis it’s still a surprise, it’s kinda the theme, you know we are going to Sinks Canyon but the stops are a surprise,” Van Brunt said.

At Sinks Canyon there will be a silent auction and 50-50. Prizes will be awarded for the best five card stud hand and the worst. “I like paying the low because those people who don’t do very well in the first couple hands, it still gives them a lot of encouragement to play,” Van Brunt stated. “Anyone interested in participation, donations or providing silent auction items can contact me at 307-259-0161,” he added.