Mohave Daily News: Local

LAUGHLIN - Bikers really like to enter poker runs, a mobile and long distance way to play a five-card hand of poker.

And they really like the annual Laughlin River Run Poker Run.

According to Christie Crow, Ginger Debenedetto and Kerry Broz of the sponsoring American Heroes Foundation there are several reasons.

Among them:

w The warm weather, coupled with riding in the morning before the temperatures turn torrid.

w The distance, about 30 miles, is short enough that it leaves the rest of the day (to say nothing of the peaking of activities at night) for other things.

w Bikers tend to be very supportive of military veterans as many - if not most - of them served in America's military forces themselves.

w And, of course, it utilizes gambling to benefit a worthy cause.

Participants also got to enjoy breakfast sandwiches and beverages before departing.

Dennis Chaney, who rides a Harley-Davidson, is from Glenwood, Iowa.

“When we left it was 30 degrees.” Spreading his arms out to catch the rays - the forecast called for Friday's high to be 97 degrees - he exclaimed “look at this!”

Chaney brought buddies Dale Aspebon, a Suzuki biker, and Keith Confer, a Gold Winger, with him from their southwestern Iowa home town.

He explained, “I retired last year and read about this. We go to Sturgis (South Dakota) every year; it's close, about 650 miles.” But he was so impressed with what he read that he convinced his buddies to join him in the journey west to the Colorado River.

While munching on their ham and egg sandwiches and sipping coffee, they picked a shady spot and met Keith DeRung, a Harley-Davidson rider from Millington, Tenn. Visiting with other bikers plays a big part in the monster-sized Laughlin convention each year, too.

Crow noted the short hop over the mountains to Kingman's Mother Road Harley-Davidson made for “one-stop shopping.”

When signing up, Josie Gonzalez of Rosamond, Calif., drew an ace of hearts and a king of diamonds with her spins of the wheel, giving her a possible royal straight if she drew a queen, jack and 10 at the finish line.

Karen White of Las Vegas had a seven of hearts and three of clubs.

“Terrible. This is a terrible hand. But if I draw a six, five and four I'd have a straight. I'm going for a straight,” she said hopefully.

Broz, the American Heroes Foundation vice chair, said, “It's a nice short run and makes for a really enjoyable ride. It helps a great cause, too.”

She reported many people rose early and registrations had been “nice and steady.”

Debenedetto, the AHF chair, said the foundation's museum is now located in Mohave Valley on Laguna Road “beyond River Valley High School at the Desert Lawn Cemetery.”

One of the popular programs the foundation supports is obtaining vans for veterans to ride to doctor appointments and for other needs.

She said anyone wanting to apply for a van should contact her at the Ramada Express Hotel & Casino at 702-298-4200 or toll free at 800-243-6846.