Poker Run will benefit Community Health Center

What’s cooler: Riding a motorcycle or donating money to charity for a good cause? How about both?
Motorcycle enthusiasts and supporters of the Eunice Community Health Center should register for Saturday’s 2nd annual “Ghost Riders -Rider For Poker Run.” With the right amount of support, the event is slated to become a fun, charitable, reoccurring event, according to one clinic official.
“We didn’t have the turnout that we wanted or expected last year ,”said Glynn Michaud, Board president of the ECHC. “We definitely want to see this thing grow.”
The poker run kick starts Saturday with registration at 8:30 a.m. at the clinic located at 450 Moosa Boulevard in Eunice. From there motorcycle drivers and riders for the cause will cruise to Fred’s in Mamou, Beau’s Garage in Opelousas, Bike Barn in Sunset and then coast their way back to Ronnie’s in Eunice. Following the poker run, a party will be thrown in the parking lot of the clinic with good food, music and a silent auction.
Michaud said that he encouraged bikers from all over the state to “ride for the health of it” as the clinic serves people from all over the Southern Gulf Coast. While the clinic is not part of a government program and cannot accept Medicaid patients, the clinic draws thousands of patients to Eunice annually seeking free health care visits, a free pharmacy, low cost lab work and mammograms.
The clinic will also be selling tickets for the “Bar-B-Q Hamburger” dinners on Saturday for a donation of $5 dollars. Michaud said that the hamburger dinners should be picked up at 450 Moosa Blvd.
“We really would love the support, the clinic is doing well but we need to sustain the clinic,” said Michaud. “We need people to please come out and support us. And if you can’t come out, just come out and buy some BBQ hamburger tickets. We appreciate the support of the community and all of the support that the community has shown in the past.”
Michaud said that Poker run entries cost $25 dollars per driver and $15 dollars per rider. He said that all monies will be treated as donations to keep the doors open and provide clinic patients with a healthy quality of life.
For more information on the upcoming event, Michaud said that folks should call the clinic at 457-1205 or Maple Avenue Pharmacy, 457-5216.