DANVILLE — Last year’s Danville Firefighters Local 429 poker run helped expand optical services for local youth and spread the word about Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center and Healthcare Network.

“There are a lot of persons who do not have insurance. (The fundraiser) helps offset the costs,” said Shelly Goodmanson, director of communications and development with Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center in Chicago Heights.

She said Aunt Martha’s “immensely” appreciated the $6,100 raised last year, and spreading the word to those unfamiliar with Aunt Martha’s.

Aunt Martha’s local healthcare center will again benefit from this year’s poker run.

The Danville Firefighters Local 429 in conjunction with the Friendly Tavern will sponsor the fourth annual poker run Saturday.

One of the organizers and firefighter Justin Watt said it was an easy decision for the committee to choose Aunt Martha’s for a second year.

“It ended up that we had such a big response from everybody,” he said about raising funds for the organization.

With the struggling economy, Aunt Martha’s hits every gender and ethnicity, Watt said.

“Everybody is so grateful,” he said about building up Aunt Martha’s services

Aunt Martha’s Healthcare Network provides access to comprehensive primary and preventive health services for children and adults of all ages. The Vermilion Area Community Health Care Center services include: primary care, medication assistance, dental care and mental health care.

Aunt Martha’s believes in treating people with respect and dignity, regardless of their ability to pay.

The local clinic at 614 N. Gilbert St. offers dental, vision and pediatric services.

Registration for the poker run begins at 10 a.m. at the Friendly Tavern on Saturday, with pre-registration at the Friendly through Monday.

The ride will begin at noon Saturday. Riders will depart from the Friendly Tavern and travel to four other locations — Brenda’s Pop-A-Tops in Cayuga, Ind., The Ridge in Ridge Farm, The Corner Lounge in Catlin and The Last Call in Penfield — where they will receive a card.

Once participants have completed all stops, they will return to the Friendly Tavern for their fifth card. The rider who has the best hand after the five stops wins the top prize.

The entry fee for the Poker Run is $15 for the driver and $10 for the passenger. Additional hands can be purchased for $5. Any legal form of transportation will do. It need not be a motorcycle to participate.

“We had a few antique cars,” Watt said of past runs. But 99 percent are motorcycles.

A meal is included in the price.

Last year’s event had more than 600 applicants with more than 400 motorcycles.

Firefighters came from northern Illinois, Indiana and the surrounding area. There was $1,000 in prize money given away and more than $3,000 in door prizes and raffles.

Watt said there will again be a raffle and music following the run.

“This year we’ve had a ton of businesses help out with this,” he said.

For example, Carmack is sponsoring the tent and Big R Rent All is providing the tables and chairs. Also, the band “No Lies” from Catlin is donating its time.

Watt said the family of band member, Jerry Horton, has benefited from Aunt Martha’s services.

Raffle prizes this year include: jackets, umbrellas, chairs, poker chip sets, coolers and other items.

The committee also is selling T-shirts this year.

Watt encourages anyone to come out, have fun and support the poker run.

“It’s the fourth year and we keep on getting bigger and bigger,” he said.

The event has never had to reschedule due to the weather yet, he added.

FYI

For more information about the poker run, contact Justin Watt at 497-3102 or the Poker Run Committee at pokerrun@danvillefirefighters.com.