DECATUR — DECATUR - Bikers and firefighters will be riding to help sick kids during the Second Annual Wyatt Hopkins Memorial Poker Run, planned for Saturday.
All proceeds from the event, sponsored by the Decatur Fire Department, will be donated to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, according to firechief David Flynt. The Decatur Fire Department was inspired to organize the event in honor of Wyatt Hopkins, a firefighter’s son who was born at the hospital and lived only a few short days. There have also been several other firefighters and community members whose children have benefited from the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Flynt said.
This year’s route will be approximately 130 miles long, winding through parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma. When riders return from the trip they will be treated to live music by the Owen Gains Band - including local musician Matt Davis - and a barbecue beef sandwich lunch, Flynt said.
The first riders will leave from the Decatur Fire Station, located on Maple Street, at 9 a.m. and will meet back at Veteran’s Parkon North Main Street. More than 64 door prizes have been donated to the event, with more coming in every day, Flynt said.
The rider with the best poker hand will win a $250 prize, and the rider with the worst hand will win $125.
Participants in the event will get a free T-shirt and lunch, he said.
If the poker run is rained out it will be held on May 14. For more information, or to find out if weather has affected the status of the event, call 466-9797, e-mail decaturfiredept@hotmail.
com or visit decaturfiredept on Facebook.
News, Pages 1 on 05/04/2011