Boyne Thunder Poker Run Auction Raises Event-Record $70,000

Though the final charity fundraising total for last weekend’s Boyne Thunder Poker Run isn’t in, proceeds from Saturday night’s auction bode well for the efforts of the organizers, participants and sponsors of the 18th annual Northern Michigan happening. According to Ingrid Day, Boyne Thunder’s events coordinator, the auction raised approximately $70,000, which will benefit the Camp Quality and Challenge Mountain, the happening’s longtime beneficiaries.

On and off the water, the 18th annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run was a success. Photos by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos.

“The generosity of our participants was on full display that evening, from auction items to donations back to the charities from the fifty-fifty raffle and poker-hand winners—and two separate cash donations,” said Day. “We are so grateful we can continue to provide support for our charities Camp Quality and Challenge Mountain, as well as Boyne City Man Street. It was a special evening.”

According to Day, the $70,000 auction total is a record for the event, some 30 percent higher than the previous high total. The final fundraising total for the entire event, however, is not yet available.

“We won’t have that total for at least 30 days,” she said. “We are still waiting for invoices to arrive and some other funding sources to deposit as they occur after the fact.”

Among the auction items was a speedonthewater.com-donated Napa Valley getaway for four featuring a day at Peacock Family Vineyard in St. Helena, Calif. The item fetched $10,000 and went to a Michigan-based bidder.

Boyne Thunder devotees Jeremy Tschida and his son, Tyler (on deck), of Wisconsin were among the many generous participants delighted with the event.

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