CAIRO POLICE OFFICERS joined the Poker Run. Pictured, l-r, Terrance (Tyron) Griffin, Gio Santos, Dwight Patten, and Tommy Gainous.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, Koyo Bearings hosted the first annual “Riding Miles to Support” Poker Run. The inaugural event started and ended at the Cairo manufacturing plant with stops in Bainbridge, Camilla and Thomasville.
Riders competed in a friendly game of poker during the ride, drawing a card at each stop along the 94-mile track. Koyo rounded out the event with door prizes for all of the riders and lunch catered by one of Koyo’s very own, Tim Daniels. Koyo associate Jim Baker, owner of J Baby Entertainment, kept the event moving, offering his services as a D.J. for the day.
The event raised $2,450 for the Jackie Robinson Boys & Girls Club of Cairo-Grady County.
Koyo plant manager, Scott Cline, an avid motorcycle enthusiast and supporter of the local community, had presented the idea to plant employees and allowed several associates to organize and plan the event. A number of local businesses and community leaders contributed to the poker run with door prizes and other donations making this a successful fundraiser.
Cline, along with Boys & Girls Club director Stephen Francis, stood together thanking all of those who made the first event a success. Francis shared some of the success stories from the local club and said that each dollar raised in this event is an investment in the lives of the children who attend the club. Poker run organizers say there is already excitement in the air as they look forward to hosting next year’s event.
