FROM A CATCH THE ACE WIN TO REVIVING A COMMUNITY TRADITION
For Gerri and Edgar Lucas, giving back to the community has always gone hand in hand with enjoying life at the lake. For years, they have supported local healthcare through the KAPOA Poker Run. Then, in one unforgettable Catch the Ace draw, Edgar found the Ace of Spades and won $479,830.
The life-changing win gave them an even greater appreciation for the work being done to support healthcare close to home. Grateful for the win, Gerri and Edgar wanted to continue giving back to the community that has given them so much. So, when the KAPOA Poker Run was unable to go ahead last year because organizers could not be found, Gerri saw an opportunity to help bring the beloved tradition back.
Gerri and Edgar have a long history with the area. Edgar’s parents purchased their cottage in 1974, and Gerri began spending time there with him in 1999. Over the years, the cottage has become their home and their “happy place,” where they love to gather family and friends and enjoy the beauty of the area. The couple even married on the cottage deck on a frigid December day, with temperatures reaching 19°F and no running water.
That same love of the lake is a big part of what makes the Poker Run so special for them. Over the years, they have turned their participation into a family tradition, even decorating their boat for the occasion. One year it became a pirate ship; another year, a Viking ship. Planning the next boat theme became a regular campfire conversation.
But bringing the event back was no small undertaking.
“After completing this year’s Poker Run, I applaud the previous people who have chaired the event,” Gerri said. “It starts in March and ends in August. It’s always on your mind, with lots of phone calls, emails and reaching out to sponsors and participants.”
This year, Gerri also brought some new ideas to the Poker Run. Instead of participants collecting playing cards at each dock, boats received poker chips before heading to the beach.
“Everyone got to play and cheer one another on,” Gerri said. “More involvement and bringing everyone together.”
That spirit of community carried through the entire event. Thanks to sponsors, participants, volunteers, dock hosts and generous donors, the Poker Run raised $20,000 to support local healthcare.
Gerri was especially touched by the generosity of participants who won prize money and chose to give their winnings back, along with those who simply made donations to the cause.
“We have some very generous people in our community - community being the town folks and cottage folks,” she said. “We all came together.”
From a life-changing Catch the Ace win to helping revive a treasured community fundraiser, Gerri and Edgar Lucas have found another way to give back to the community that has given them so many memories.
The St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation extends a heartfelt thank you to Gerri, Edgar and everyone who helped make this year’s KAPOA Poker Run a success. Your enthusiasm, generosity and commitment are helping ensure that this fun-filled tradition continues, while making a meaningful difference for local healthcare.
Inspired to host your own third-party event? Find out more here.
