New mayor keeps Poker Run fundraiser going

The annual Mayor’s Poker Run is coming up on Saturday, July 8.
This year will mark the 10th edition of the Poker Run after former Imperial Mayor Dwight Coleman began the event in 2014.
Current Mayor Craig Loeffler said he plans to continue with the annual event.
“I’ve participated years prior and I enjoyed it,” Loeffler said.
He states that everything will continue the same and no changes will be made now that he is in charge of the day-long event.
Loeffler explained that he chose to carry on with the event because he likes that the funds help out a local organization.
The Giving Circle located in Imperial is a group that helps those in need.
“When Dwight started it, he asked me if The Giving Circle would be interested in doing part of the work for it,” member Jo Leyland said.
Members of The Giving Circle help at registration, prepare the meal and clean up.
“It’s $30 to register and for that they get a T-shirt, they get to participate in the Poker Run and then they get a meal in the evening when they get back,” Leyland explained.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. July 8 in the Imperial City Gym.
Mayor Loeffler will lead the participants at 10:30 a.m. as they make their way to Benkelman.
From Benkelman, they will stop in St. Francis, Kansas, Wray and Holyoke, Colorado and then return to Imperial around 6 p.m.
Although registration is available the morning of the Poker Run, people interested are encouraged to preregister.
“If they pre-register, we’ll have a T-shirt ready for them that day. If they don’t, they won’t get it until afterwards,” Leyland said.
“We like them to preregister and that way we know more about how many people to make meals for,” she added
There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place poker hand winners and door prizes. The riders will also participate in the Bug Spot competition.
The Giving Circle is expecting a big crowd, as they are already receiving plenty of support from the community, Leyland said.