Poker Run raises money for children’s hospital
DECATUR — The roar of engines and the smell of exhaust filling the air in Decatur marked the beginning of the eighth annual Wyatt Hopkins Memorial Poker Run on May 6.
Near 8:30 a.m. bikes of all makes and models, one from as far away as St. Cloud, Minn., gathered at the Decatur Fire Department main station to kick off this year’s poker run. In all, 75 bikes and trikes participated in the event.
Over half of the bikers participating were military veterans representing every branch of the Armed Forces. They proudly displayed their unit, MIA and other patches on well-worn leather vests and jackets.
At 9 a.m. the first rider pulled out of the Decatur City Hall parking lot, heading to one of several check points in northwest Arkansas and far eastern Oklahoma. At each point, the rider picked up a playing card to add to his hand. The person with the highest and worst hands won a cash prize.
Chief Jeremy Luker and the Decatur Fire Department hosted the event to raise money for the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in memory of Wyatt Hopkins, the son of firefighter Brent Hopkins and wife Sara. He was the grandson of Rob Hopkins, Decatur Veterans’ Committee and Honor Flight chairman.
Wyatt was born at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in 2009 and lived only a few days.
The Department, then led by David Flynt, wanted to host an event to raise money to help other children and families who face life-threatening illness similar to Wyatt’s.
This year’s event was made a little more special with the presence of Remington Anderson, 3, who was diagnosed with brain cancer. He spent a few months in the Arkansas Children’s Hospital before being transferred to St. Jude in Memphis, Tenn., last year. His smiles and laughter as he played among the five Decatur fire trucks reminded everyone of the purpose for the event, the children.
By 3 p.m. most of the 100 riders and passengers returned to the community room for the prize ceremony. When the final tallies were complete, the event raised $4,500, all of which goes to the hospital.