If you see a large group of motorcyclists on North Monroe Street this morning, don't be alarmed. They're not wild bikers.
They're participating in the K-Mc Sports Foundation Big Brothers Big Sisters 5th Annual Poker Run.
Using the slogan "Be Nice, Look Twice, Save a Life," K-Mc Sports is promoting motorcycle safety and raising money for the organization in remembrance of Kris McElhenny.
He was killed May 8, 2002, at age 18, when his motorcycle struck a vehicle that had failed to yield.
"Kris is still a huge part of our lives," Tina McElhenny said of her son, an accomplished baseball player. "If we can help save a life by talking about what happened with Kris, then this campaign has been a success."
She and her family started K-Mc Sports Foundation after he died. It has raised more than $126,000 to boost awareness of motorcycle laws, fund scholarships for Lincoln NJROTC, donate school supplies and toys to children and pay for their participating sports fees.
This is the first year Big Brothers has teamed up with K-Mc Sports.
"Tina is a long-time supporter and holiday sponsor of our Christmas program," said Colette Podgorski, resource development director for Big Brothers. "It was only right that we approached each other about this event."
Representatives of Big Brothers will be at every stop of the poker run, promoting their organization and its cause.
In a poker run (also known as a poker derby), participants travel over a certain route and, at designated stops, draw playing cards. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run. The best hand will receive a motorcycle helmet to be customized at their discretion.
This run will also reward the worst hand with a $50 gift card from Target.
Part of the entrance fee goes to funding the event (including the prizes), while the rest goes to the Kristopher McElhenny Memorial Fund.