WORLAND – The Washakie Hospital Badlands Poker Run Saturday generated a good turnout and a large sum of money for the Washakie Hospital Foundation cancer fund.

"We had between 45-50 participants and I'm still tallying the amount we made but I think that it was around $3,800 - $4,000. I still have to calculate it," Washakie Hospital Badlands Poker Run organizer Keith Van Brunt said.

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 from this event goes 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.

The Badlands Poker Run required a full day of riding. "It started out from Rumors in Worland at 9:30 a.m. and the first stop was at the B & K Shoreline Stop just outside of Shoshoni. The next stop on the run was at the Boot in Riverton, then on to Sinks Canyon, then the Lander Bar and back to Rumors," Van Brunt said. "It was a great time, everyone had fun. I think next year will be even better," he added.