Cold Lake Toy Drive and Poker Run coming back for 7th year – Lakeland Connect

The Annual Toy and Poker Run is back and set for May 27, a chance to come out in the Cold Lake community and enjoy a donation BBQ with burgers and hot dogs.

When a toy is donated you receive a ticket that will be entered into a draw to win a prize, all prizes are donated from local businesses.

This is our seventh year doing the toy run and we have added in the poker run to generate a little bit more money. We collect toys and give them to the Lakeland hospitals, and any money generated through the donation-only BBQ and the poker run will go to Valour Place in Edmonton, said Chris Smithers, Organizer.

I didnt know until a few years ago that when kids are in there overnight or a couple of days that they are given a toy and that toy they can take home with them as a comfort thing and thats the reason we collect.

The Poker Run is $20 per hand, $30 with passenger. Kickstands are up at 10:00 a.m. and the best hand to win gets $200 and a prize.

In 2017 the UN NATO Veterans began a Motorcycle Toy Run to benefit the Lakeland hospitals and Valour Place in Edmonton for the ill and injured veterans, RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces members, first responders, and their family members who require medical treatment in Edmonton, but live elsewhere.

We chose these groups to benefit from our event because they both directly impact the Lakeland community and as veterans, we feel strongly about looking after those in service to Canada and providing comfort to children in need, said Smithers.

Last year we raised $2600 for Valour Place and two large containers of new toys for the Lakeland.

Originally posted here:

Cold Lake Toy Drive and Poker Run coming back for 7th year - Lakeland Connect