Jacksonville River Rally And Poker Run Cancelled

With their event scheduled for May 14-17 and COVID-19 pandemic social distancing mandates in full effect in most states, Jacksonville River Rally And Poker Run organizers Greg Harris and Yvonne Aleman knew the 2020 Northern Florida event was in jeopardy. Today, they decided it was time to make a hard decision and officially cancel the event.

Jacksonville River Rally And Poker Run organizers Greg Harris and Yvonne Aleman held off the decision as long as they could, but today they cancelled the event. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

None of the restaurants feel that they will be able to host our group, and without the lunches or dinners it’s not much of an event,” said Harris.

As announced on the event’s Facebook page, all registration fees will be refunded.

Since taking over the then-dying event in 2016, Harris and Aleman have rebuilt it to become a popular early season run for performance-boating enthusiasts from around the Sunshine State and the Northeast. Their top priority always has been raising money for Camp Amigo, a North-Florida camp for children recovering from severe burn injuries. In 2020, the 38-boat event raised almost $19,000 for the essential charity.

Harris and Aleman are still encouraging would-be participants for the 2020 happening, as well as past participants, to donate to Camp Amigo in the name of the Jacksonville River Rally Poker Run. Though the event won’t happen this year, they are planning to bring it back in 2021.

Said Harris, “We’ll be coming back better and stronger. And mid- to late-May will again be our target date.

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