Support Our Troops Poker Run Gearing Up for Fun Weekend

ByJason Johnson

For the ninth straight year, the Support Our Troops Poker Run organized by MidwestBoatParty.com is planning to take over Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks again this week (June 23-25).

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Friday’s Support the Troops Poker Run on Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks is going to finish at Dog Days. Photo courtesy Ed Champion

Beginning with Thursday’s registration party at Camden on the Lake Resort from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., where boaters can pick up their information as well as sign up for the poker run, the event features the run and post-run party on Friday followed by a “rehab day” consisting of a pool party on Saturday at Camden on the Lake.

Organizers of the poker run, which raised $16,000 for the H.E.R.O.E.S. Care program and the Global Orphan Project last year, are hoping to raise even more money for H.E.R.O.E.S. Care this year. Along with the fundraising, another aspect that showcases the event’s military appreciation theme is that participants are going to host at least 40 service men and women and their significant others in the run on Friday.

“Last year the rain kind of tweaked some things for us, but hopefully we won’t have to deal with that again,” said Amber Grisham, who helps organize the run for MidwestBoatParty.com.

According to Grisham, the event wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of many major sponsors including Performance Boat Center, Poly Lift Boat Lifts, Redhead Yacht Club, Wake Effects, Vinson Mortgage Group, P.D.Q. Marine Services, Big Thunder Marine, REMAX at the Lake, Austin Machine, Camden on the Lake, Teague Custom Marine and more.

This year the poker run includes 10 potential stops, but participants are only required to make it to five—anyone who makes it to all 10 stops will be entered into a special drawing at the post-run party.

The run starts at Camden on the Lake Resort and ends at Dog Days Bar & Grill. In between, participants can head to the other stops—Bear Bottom Resort, Captain Ron’s, Larry’s on the Lake, Nautifish Rum Bar, The Fish and Co., Paradise Tropical Restaurant & Bar, Franky & Louie’s Beach Front Bar & Grill, Shorty Pants Lounge, Redhead Lakeside Grill & Redhead Yacht Club, and Beavers at the Dam—at any point throughout the day.

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