Poker run to be held in support of seven month old Preston Hughes

Published 9:18 pm Wednesday, July 7, 2010

As the old adage goes, ‘sometimes you have to play the hand you’re dealt’.

For seven-month-old Preston Carter Hughes, son of Chad and Julie Hughes, that seems an unfair proposition.

Preston was born with an unidentified muscular disorder.

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He has three obstructions in his upper airway and he has to have a tracheotomy tube changed weekly.

Preston has been dealt a hand many would just as soon fold.

But this Saturday, the annual poker run that starts at Dwan’s Place just outside of Spring Hill, will help give Preston a chance to win a hand.

“Once you see this little guy you’re going to see the importance of this,” said Anna Thompson who is coordinating the event.

To register for the event, participants need only a set of wheels and $10.

They start at Dwan’s before riding out to establishments in Enterprise and Newton, then Slow Country Saloon just south of Brundidge and finally back to Dwan’s.

At each location the riders draw a card. Upon their return the best hand wins a percentage of the funds raised.

“Most of the time the people that win that money donate it back,” Thompson said.

Those competitors are truly five-card-studs.

While poker runs are traditionally done on bikes, Thompson said any vehicle is allowed.

“You don’t necessarily have to have a motorcycle to do this,” she said.

“Anybody is welcome, they’ll just have to fall in behind the bikes but that’s not a problem.”

Registration for the event will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday morning and the first bike out will be at 10:30 a.m.

The motorcade of Harley-humanitarians will make its away around the region before arriving back in Spring Hill at 3:30 p.m.

Participants will enjoy food and drink and auctions sponsored by local businesses.

Catfish, the local legend from the band Flatcreek, will be performing afterwards. His superb rendition of the Old Crow Medicine Show’s ‘Wagon Wheel’ is sure to bring a full house to the poker run.

The guest of honor will be Preston himself though. Thompson wanted him to be available to meet everybody.

“It touches my heart to see him,” she said. “When you see his eyes it will break your heart.”

With that charm Preston will surely be a king of hearts.

Last year the run raised an impressive $6,500.

Thompson encouraged any and everybody to come out and have fun this year and help Preston pull in an even bigger pot.