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By Cole Trahan
Daily News

On Saturday, Defending America’s Defenders, Inc. will hold its 13th Annual Poker Run, a motorbiking event. All proceeds from the event will be used to support local veterans in need. Participants will start at Iron Cross Motorcycle Club at 2516 Upper Big Springs Road, where registration will begin at 9 a.m. Participants should leave Iron Cross MC by 11 a.m. to be on time for festivities at Whitetail Pub, located at 5309 Roanoke Road. The event will cost $20 per bike, which will also cover the cost of lunch. Each additional passenger has to pay $5. Participants can pay with cash or checks.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, participants aren’t expected to ride together. Each will be provided with a map. According to D.A.D. event coordinator Wayne Bennett, there will be four stops, including Iron Cross MC and Whitetail Pub.

At Whitetail Pub, participants can enjoy live music by Pure Country, door prizes, raffles, auctions and giveaways. Some of the items that will be auctioned off are several motorcycle helmets and a Yuengling mirror. Bennett thinks the turnout for the event will be good.

“We’re expecting about 50 to 60 bikes,” he said. “It’s one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. [Through] people that have sponsored it, we’ve made a fair amount of money already without doing the ride yet.”

Bennett said the event has already raised $2,000 from business sponsors such as Iron Cross MC. D.A.D. is an all-volunteer organization.

“We pay bills for veterans that are in need,” explained Bennett, himself a disabled veteran.  “Our main purpose is to keep veterans from being homeless. They’re, like, four times as likely to be homeless as the average person.”

In addition to paying for rent, electric bills, water bills, and other expenses, D.A.D. also helps veterans with paperwork.