Kindersley Legion’s annual Poker Rally and Toy Run support’s great cause
BY JOAN JANZEN
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
The Kindersley Legion will be hosting their 4th Annual Legion Poker Rally, and Toy Run on Saturday, September 5th, when bikers will gather at the Legion Hall, where they will drop off their donated toys. On previous toy runs, the new toys have included everything from colouring books to an X-Box. At last year’s toy run, 189 toys (an estimated value of $3000) were accumulated, and Al Drozd, who organizes the event, expects that number will increase in the 2020 event.
The toys, along with cash donations, are given to the West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre, where they are used for multiple purposes. Besides being used for Christmas hampers, they’re also a welcome addition for the children’s sexual assault kits/services, programs for missing and exploited children, children’s trauma supports, and the children’s decompression room in the new crisis centre building.
“I can’t believe all that those ladies do at the Crisis Centre,” Al Drozd said. “They use those toys all year round.”
The event kicks off with a parade down Main Street at noon, complete with an RCMP escort, after which the bikers will take the scenic route, travelling to Kerrobert, Luseland and Coleville. Bikers come from local communities as well as Saskatoon, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Medicine Hat, Calgary and Edmonton.
“We get a lot of the same people coming back, and they bring their friends because they had a good time,” Al said. “Some have friends and connections in Kindersley, and others are members of different bike clubs that show up. They enjoy riding and doing these charity runs. Last year we had around 50 bikers, and it’s been growing every year. It’s been an excellent turnout.”
Rain or shine - the poker rally will proceed as usual. “We’ve had rainy days before. If you’re going to ride a bike, you’re going to get wet sometimes,” Al reasoned.
At each stop, the participants will visit a local Legion hall, with poker hands accumulated card by card at each stop. Additional riders can join in at any of these stops and draw extra cards at the finish. It’s $30 for a poker hand, which includes supper, and it’s not uncommon for the poker winner to donate the winnings back to the West Central Crisis Centre.
The bikers get back to Kindersley around 5 p.m., just in time for the pig roast supper. Kindersley Packers prepare the meat, and the Legion members help with the remainder of the meal preparations. Even if you don’t ride a bike, you’re more than welcome to come and enjoy supper, and I’m sure the Legion members would welcome any additional donations of new toys.
