Larry Fisher of IBEW Local 280 won a new 2012 Heritage Softail Classic Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The bike is autographed by Willie G. Davidson, the grandson of Harley-Davidson co-founder William A. Davidson and the company’s senior vice president and chief styling officer.
Fisher, of Lebanon, Oregon, was the grand prize winner of the motorcycle raffle, which is the primary fundraising portion of the Motorcycle Poker Run and Chili Cook-off sponsored by Unions for Kids.
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the event, which raised a record $55,000 for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Since its inception, the Poker Run has donated $326,000 to Doernbecher.
Out of 297 riders, the winner of the Poker Run — with a high hand of four 5s — was Dan Poczynek of IBEW Local 48. The low-hand winner was a “wheel” (A, 2, 3, 4, 5), held by IBEW Local 48 member Eugene Kramer. Each received a cash prize. The Chili Cook-off champion was Gail Wolfe, representing the IBEW and United Workers Federal Union. Wolfe is a member of Office and Professional Employees Local 11.
An award for “Farthest Rider” went to Russ McNally of Antioch, Calif., He traveled over 600 miles each way, with a “mission” to deliver a $1,000 donation from IBEW Local 302 in Martinez, Calif.
The Poker Run was held June 9 and was dedicated to the memory of Iron Workers Local 29 member Mike Roche, Sr., a founding member of Unions for Kids. For the past 10 years the event has been staged at the IBEW Local 48 union hall in Northeast Portland.
Unions for Kids is a nonprofit and an all-volunteer organization, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the kids at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
