By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News | Photo courtesy of the WildBunch Bike Family

The WildBunch Bike Family is at it again, preparing for their second annual first responder initiative poker run. Seeking to benefit first responders across Emery County, the ride will travel to every firehouse within the county. Don Gardner from the bike family joined the KOAL newsroom to discuss the ride and promote other upcoming events for the group.

“The fire chief in Emery lost his home in a fire and lost everything. So this year we decided to direct the funds and whatever donations we can get for him to help him and his family,” shared Gardner when asked what the ride will benefit. “We’re hoping to make a big difference. We’ve incorporated and become a full 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charity. So any help anybody can give us will help our community now.”

The ride is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, and the goal is to stop at all eight firehouses within Emery. “We’ll begin in Elmo, end in Green River, and touch base with all our fire departments,” explained Gardner.

The event is not exclusive to motorcycles, with the bike family welcoming all street-legal vehicles to participate in the ride. “Anybody that wants to go on this run and support us, we welcome everybody … We have tragedies in our community all the time. And if something like this happened with my family, I would hope somebody would step up and give us a hand because it’s tragic.”

The ride will cost $20 per rider/driver, $10 per passenger and $10 per extra poker hand. 

In addition to the poker run, the WildBunch will host a flag retirement ceremony as part of Orangeville Days on June 14. “We have several flags that need to be retired properly,” said Gardner. The group will also host a benefit bike show as part of Huntington’s Heritage Days on July 4. 

In closing, Gardner shared, “Our community is fantastic. This place is great. I love all you guys out there.”

To keep up with the WildBunch Bike Family, you can follow the group’s Facebook page.