Blue Star Ranch hosted its second annual charity poker motorcycle ride on Saturday, the organization’s signature fundraiser of the year, ranch officials said.
According to John Zhe, a volunteer with Blue Star, the ranch has to raise funds to maintain its horses and pay therapists.
“Everybody else is volunteer,” he said. “Nobody gets paid.”
Blue Star Ranch, off Placerita Canyon Road, provides equine-assisted therapy for veterans and first responders suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder. Those riding Saturday morning signed in, and with their tickets to ride picked up poker cards, which they’d collect at various points throughout their ride.
The group of bikers began their 77.6-mile ride at 10 a.m. on Saturday, starting from the Mint Canyon Moose Lodge on Sierra Highway in Canyon Country. Their route took them past Elizabeth Lake, through Lakeview and Acton, before looping back to their starting point.
Many of the bikers who participated in the ride were military veterans. Some bikers were not veterans, but they were riding to support those who served.
Several bikes were decorated with American flags, POW MIA flags and Veterans of Foreign Wars flags to show what riders were riding for.
Frank Alcantar of Canyon Country said he was doing it to support veterans and first responders.
Joe Lozano, who’s also from Canyon Country, said he did the ride last year. He’s always willing to help veterans and children whenever he can.
Saugus resident Tim McGowan said he was riding on behalf of teamsters for veterans and first responders.
Valencia resident Max Morgan, who others called “Mad Max,” served in the United States Marines and as a Navy SEAL. He participated in the ride Saturday morning because he said those with post-traumatic stress disorder need support.
“I want to help raise money for an organization that sponsors and treats vets with PTSD,” he said. “It’s an enormous problem in the veteran community, and I want to do what I can do to support them, having served and been shot and wounded in Vietnam.”
After the ride, participants gathered for the outcome of the poker game. The biker with the best poker hand won a $100 prize, and the one with the worst poker hand won a $50 prize. The band Bittersweet provided entertainment.
For more information about Blue Star Ranch, go to BlueStarRanch.org.
