Mark Ray of Snyders Lake, Norman Goodell of Brunswick, and Tommy O’Brien of West Sand Lake, talk in front of Goodell’s Triumph 650cc Bonneville
Hard Tail custom motorcycle as members of N.Y. Chapter of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association take part in “Poker Run” at Sullivan-Jones VFW Post in Poestenkill Saturday to benefit the Albany based Fisher House. (Photo by J.S. CarrasThe Record) POESTENKILL &mdash Despite the gloomy weather, a group of bikers departed the town Saturday to ride across three states for a worthy cause. The tri-state “Poker Run” was organized by members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, New York Chapter 19-1, as a fund-raiser to benefit the Albany Fisher House, and kicked off from the Sullivan-Jones VFW Post on Veterans Street. The Fisher House is a national private-public partnership that supports the families of American veterans by donating “comfort homes” built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. Kevin Dougherty, executive commander of the local chapter, explained that Fisher House helped families by allowing them to not have to worry about finding hotel rooms when their loved ones are in need of care. “There’s a long waiting list and we’re just trying to help them out financially with that because it’s the national charity for our group,” said Dougherty. While the CVMA has held various fundraisers for Fisher House in the past, Dougherty said that this was the first year the group decided to actually hold a riding event. “We’re a motorcycle association, it’s the summertime and we figure we can ride our motorcycles, get people in there who enjoy the same stuff that we do, and do it for a good cause,” said Dougherty. “Our association is made up of combat veterans who ride motorcycles &mdash that’s what we’re about along with raising money for veterans.” A poker run typically involves riders traveling a mapped out route and stopping at designated locations along the way to draw playing cards, with the object being to have the best poker hand at the end of the day to win various prizes. Saturday’s run took riders from the VFW post on a roughly three-hour loop up to Vermont and over to Massachusetts before heading back to the town. Dan Hosler, of Averill Park, said he was riding in the event because it was for a good cause. “You have wounded vets in the hospital and their families can be with them. What better cause could there be Plus, we have a good time,” said Hosler, who noted that inclement weather would not have stopped the event. “If it was raining real hard, we’d take trucks.” Norm Goodell, of Brunswick, a retired veteran who served 26 years in the military, said that he was excited to ride in his first poker run on his 650 Triumph. “A friend of mine told me that there was going to be a motorcycle ride for a good veteran cause, so here I am with the oldest and smallest motorcycle here,” said Goodell. Harry Treadway, of Ticonderoga, said he rode down in the pouring rain Friday to participate in the run. Kevin Brunick, a state representative for CVMA, said that there were chapters located in just about every state which support veterans’ causes around the nation. He also noted that Saturday’s poker run was a more causal event than traditional large motorcycle rides. “Anytime between 10 a.m. and noon you can show up and take off,” said Brunick. “You can take as long as you want as long as you’re back by 5 p.m.” The local chapter of the organization also plans to hold a Texas Hold‘Em poker tournament at the Sullivan-Jones VFW Post to benefit Fisher House on Sept. 25. Tom Caprood can be reached at 270-1278 or by e-mail at . You must be logged in to post a comment. Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts! Note: Fields marked with an asterisk () are required! (children under 13 cannot register)
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