Bikers ready to roll in Sebastian to support March of Dimes

[totalmotorcycle]

Bikers ready to roll in Sebastian to support March of Dimes
Friday, October 20, 2006 - By JANET BEGLEY - correspondent - TC Palm - tcpalm.com




SEBASTIAN — Hundreds of bikers are ready to roll into town Oct. 28 as the March of Dimes sponsors its annual Bikers for Babies Halloween Poker Run. The North Run kicks off at 11 a.m. from Earl's Hideaway Lounge, 140 Indian River Drive. Earl's also can be seen from U.S. 1.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and continues until the first poker card is distributed at 11 a.m. There is no need to pre-register and all motorcycle enthusiasts are welcome.

A poker run is an organized motorcycle event where riders travel over a prescribed course, and at designated stopping points, select a card. At the end of the run, the person with the best poker hand wins a prize.
From Sebastian, the group will head south, with stops planned in Vero Beach and Fort Pierce. The run finishes at 2 p.m. in Port St. Lucie.

According to Kelly Rizzo, community director for the March of Dimes in Vero Beach, the Halloween Poker Run not only raises money for research into the causes of premature births, but also awareness about prematurity and birth defects.

"Although this is the eighth year we are sponsoring the 'Bikers for Babies' program, it's the first time we are doing a poker run," said Rizzo. "Our goal is to raise $50,000 for the March of Dimes on Oct. 28."

While Earl's Hideaway is sponsoring the northern run, Toyota of Stuart will sponsor the southern poker run that takes place simultaneously. The last card and finish for both runs occurs at the Port St. Lucie Fall Festival at Tradition Field, where prizes for first-, second- and third-place poker hands will be awarded. The top three individual fundraisers, as well as the top three fundraising groups, also will be honored at the conclusion of the event.

Since 1938, the March of Dimes has focused its efforts on raising funds to improve health conditions for thousands of babies born with birth defects, as well as preventing premature births. Its efforts were crucial in the long battle against childhood polio that ended with that disease's virtual eradication by vaccines in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

March of Dimes rides take place in more than 80 cities and are one of the fastest growing series motorcycle events in the country. More than 65,000 participants covered more than 5,000 miles in 2005, raising money for this cause. The event provides an opportunity for motorcycle groups and clubs, vendors, dealerships, and individual motorcyclists to join together to make a positive contribution to the community and to the motorcycling image.

Tickets for the Halloween Poker Run in Sebastian are $25 for the rider and $10 for a passenger, which entitles participants to a poker hand as well as a commemorative T-shirt. For more information or to pre-register, visit marchofdimesride.org or www.marchofdimes.com/florida. For information, call the March of Dimes at (772) 562-0115.

IF YOU GO

To pre-register for the March of Dimes' Halloween Poker Run, which starts in Sebastian on Oct. 28, log onto www.marchofdimes.com/florida.