Women motorcyclists rally for charity

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on June 7, 2023.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Geri Trautman, followed by Faye Knitel, were the first two back to the Honkers Bar and Grill parking lot after the Women in the Wind WindSun Riders Chapter Lethbridge Motorcycle Poker Rally.

Women in the Wind WindSun Riders Chapter Lethbridge held its inaugural Motorcycle Poker Rally on Saturday.

The rally stretched 245 kilometres and riders revved up at Honkers Bar and Grill and rode to Cattlemen’s Chophouse in Picture Butte, down to Simply Irresistible in Welling, up to Fort MacLeod’s Stronghold Brewing and back to Honkers.

Riders were tasked with buying a card to make a poker hand at each stop and the best hand wins at the end.

“Actually I used to arrange these poker rallies in Saskatchewan years ago,” said Dixie Fowler, the Chapter’s treasurer.

“It was called Bodacious Babes for Breast Cancer and I had some left over T-shirts from that charity event and I wanted to give them away in another poker run in this area. So when I approached the girls and said, ‘Do you guys think you’d be interested in helping to organize a poker run? We can giveaway our T-shirts and makes some money for the local Cancer Society.’ And everybody, just like I said, they all were just right on board. I didn’t have to convince them at all. They all were happy to do it.”

By just after 10 a.m. says 10 riders had come through for the event.

“So that’s pretty low,” said Fowler.

“We were hoping between 40 and 50. But like I said, it’s our first one, so I really didn’t know what to expect and it all hinges on people’s availability, the weather, just things you just can’t control.”

Tammy Hall came from Brooks for the rally and thought the ride was about fellowship.

“You know like-minded people and you know new people may be interested in the sport. It’s a wonderful sport and the fellowship is great. It doesn’t matter where you go on a bike, you meet other bikers and you’re instant friends.”

Proceeds from the Poker Rally went to the Jack Ady Cancer Centre.

The winning poker hand kept 50 per cent of the money collected and other half went to the cancer centre.