By COOPER SLOUGH
Hays Post
The fourth annual Blaine Billinger Poker Run is scheduled for next Saturday, Oct. 15.
Single hands are $25, or $40 for two. Participants throw darts to get their hand. The best hand wins the cash prize, but door prizes will also be given away. Registration for the event begins at 10:30 a.m.
Both cars and motorcycles are encouraged to participate.
The ride begins at 11 a.m. at Frontier Park, and goes to the Outer Limits Bar and Grill in Munjor, then continues on to The Library Bar and Grill in Victoria. From there, the ride will head east to the Old 40 Bar and Grill in Dorrance, back west to Waudby’s in Russell, and finally concluding at the Horseshoe Bar and Grill, 1002 E. Eighth, Hays.
“Last year was our best year. We had about 75 participants,” said Ken Billinger, president of the Blaine Billinger Excellence in Scouting Fund.
All proceeds for the event benefit the Blaine Billinger Excellence in Scouting Fund, helping aid scouts with scholarships for education and assisting youth needing financial assistance to participate in various scouting activities.
Blaine was a decorated Eagle Scout who tragically lost his life in 2011 after suffering a sudden cardiac death while riding his mountain bike.
Ken Billinger pointed to the overwhelming support of friends and family as one of the driving forces behind the scouting fund’s success.
“Probably the most overwhelming thing for us was the outstanding support of our family and friends,” he said. “They’re just there to help all the time, and we never take that for granted.”
This year’s poker run is dedicated to Marty Sander and Adam Pfannenstiel.
Marty was Blaine’s uncle and a scout leader who passed away last November.
Adam was a fellow scout and cousin to Blaine who passed away in an ATV accident earlier this year.
Several years ago, Adam and his family won the Volunteer Family of the Year Award through the Billinger Scouting Fund.
Troop 101, Adam’s troop, will be the color guard for the national anthem prior to the event.
“Blaine loved scouts, and we wanted to keep that memory alive,” Billinger said, “and we thought if we could help scouts and help kids that would just be great.”
For more information about the poker run, click here. To learn more about the organization or get involved, visit their website here.