Community rallies with ‘Day for E.J.’

Published 8:34 pm Thursday, December 2, 2010

Several Pike County establishments have come together to help raise funds for a trip to Disney World for 4-year-old E.B. Johnson and her family.

“E.B. is battling cancer and we all wanted to do something to make this Christmas season special for her and her family,” said John Kloss, owner of Cheers. “All children love Disney World so we thought this would be something that E.B. and her family could enjoy together.”

Cheers, Dwan’s Place, Slow Country Saloon, The Front Porch and The Double Branch will host E.B. Johnson Day on Saturday, Dec. 11. The daylong event will include a poker run for those 21 years and older and a fish fry and afternoon of entertainment for everyone.

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“Poker runs are usually for bikers but for E.B., all vehicles are welcome,” Kloss said. The run will start at Cheers and follow a route to the Barbecue House on Highway 231 north of Troy, to Dwan’s Place on 87, Slow Country Saloon on Highway 231 south and back to Cheers.

“At each stop, the participants will draw a card and it will be recorded on a sheet,” Kloss said. “At the end of the poker run, the one with the best five-card hand will be the winner and will get half of the poker run pot.”

The first poker hand is $15 and the second and each additional hand is $10.

“Usually there are two people on a bike so if both played it would be $25,” Kloss said. “But, if you’re on a car and you’ve got five people in there, they can all play if they want to and we hope they will.”

E.B. Johnson Day will also feature a silent auction and a 50-50 raffle in which the winning ticket gets half of the pot.

“Registration for the poker run is at 9 a.m. on Dec. 11, but we’ll have a fish fry at lunch and entertainment all day,” Kloss said. “DJ Mr. Clint will keep things going and we’ll be well entertainment by the Baddnuff Band from Montgomery and Rob Langford who is an Elvis tribute artist.”

E.B. Day tee shirts will be on sale for $15 each.

Those who don’t participate in the poker run but would like to make a donation to the E.B. Johnson Day fundraiser may stop by any time during the day to do so.

“All of the money raised will go to E.B. and her family,” Kloss said. “We want them to use the money in any way that they want to or need to. This is all for them. We invite the community to join us doing something special for E.B.”