The Cape Coral Construction Industry Association is planning its first-ever poker run this weekend.
The poker run will coincide with the city’s Bike Night Saturday, Feb. 6, which acts as the run’s final destination.
CCCIA Executive Director Patti Schnell said the professional organization has been trying to step up its community outreach efforts, and a poker run seemed like the next ideal event.
She said that Don Stouten, from Stouten and Associates and the CCCIA’s membership committee, came up with the idea for the poker run.
“This was his deal,” Schnell said of Stouten. “He’s a biker and has done poker runs and it just seemed like a great fit with bike night.”
Stouten said the poker run’s focus is to raise money and awareness for the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
He said the food bank is able to stretch a dollar — turning it into six.
“Charities are having tough times right now because everyone is cutting back,” he said. “We felt we really needed to step up as a group. We could help more that way than trying to do it individually … Harry Chapin will be able to get a lot of value out of our charitable donations.”
The run starts at noon Saturday at Harley Davidson of Fort Myers.
Riders will then stop at Victory Lane in North fort Myers, followed by Bubba’s Road House on Pine Island Road, then The Joint at Cape Harbour, ending finally at the Harley tent in downtown Cape Coral for Bike Night.
The entry cost for the poker run is $20, and there will be cash prizes for the best and worst poker hand, a 50/50 raffle and other door prizes.
Schnell said she is anticipating a great crowd for the event, while Stouten said every dollar raised will go directly to the Harry Chapin Food Bank, which supplies food banks all over the county, including the Cape Caring Center.
“We want to promote the association (the CCCIA), but we also want to show the community we’re about more than building,” Stouten said.
For more information, contact the CCCIA at 772-0027