By Jeani G.

The 2nd annual Saddle Up for St. Jude Poker Run and Music Fest took place on Saturday, April 6th at the World-Famous Iron Horse Saloon in Ormond Beach. God blessed us with beautiful weather and the fundraising committee: Sherry, Gator Ken & Jeani, and Scott & Jen; with the partnership of our main sponsor Rue & Ziffra and Iron Horse owners Sally and Melissa, organized a spectacular event! Over five hundred riders, along with special guest NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, enjoyed breakfast at the Iron Horse before riding off into the sunshine. Stops included the Dog House, Cabbage Patch, a wild card at Sorry Charlie’s, Boot Hill Saloon on Main Street, then back to the Iron Horse for lots more fun!

The overwhelming generosity of riders, sponsors, local community donations, auctions, raffles, and the efforts of over thirty-five volunteers enabled an overjoyed committee along with Lisa of Rue & Ziffra to make a loving donation in the amount of $78,105 on April 29th to Dawn of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital … simply incredible! As you may know, since opening more than 62 years ago, St. Jude has helped push the cancer survival rate of children from 20% to 80% and families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food.

The fundraising itself began many months earlier with live guitar auctions during Biketoberfest and Bike Week (autographed by musicians Colt Ford, Eddie Montgomery, Hairball, Whey Jennings, Corey Smith, and Chris Cagle), raffle ticket sales for a metal alligator sculpture hand-crafted by Howard, Skylar’s lemonade stand sales, securing sponsorships, and collecting baskets and auction items donated by local businesses and restaurants. Everyone in the community was so eager to join in and the outpouring of love was simply outstanding!

The day’s festivities included non-stop music by exciting and talented local bands: LA Robinson, Panic Station, and Gun Shy. Beth and Jeff emceed the party and kept things rolling with live auctions of fabulous items such as a Twisted Tea beach bike, SWAT experience with Volusia County Sheriff’s Dept, 13-foot gator head by John Walker Taxidermy, Lee Greenwood guitar plus Soldier Valley bourbon and American Poly Furniture surfboard table with stools. Attendees also enjoyed a cornhole tournament, 50/50 raffle, gun raffles, dice game, t-shirt sales and bidding on silent auction baskets. Chris Rhoads with WHOG did a live radio feed. Food vendors included Tacos Land, hot dog cart, Skylar’s fresh lemonade, Wild Nut House, and Iron Horse’s kitchen. In a very touching moment, Suzette the mother of a St. Jude survivor, shared her family’s journey beginning with her son’s diagnosis, fighting strong through the years, and winning the battle!

A huge THANK YOU to all of the riders, volunteers, auction participants and event attendees who shared their day with us and also to all of the Sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible: Rue & Ziffra, Hot Action Sportswear, Iron Horse Saloon, Southern Country Customs, Barton & Barton Feed & Supply, Veterans Support Fund, Red White & Blue Heating and A/C, Boot Hill Saloon, OB’s Restaurant & Lounge, Jeep Beach, Twisted Tea, A-OK Guns, United Rentals, Hard Rock Hotel, Beery Roofing, Custom Dynamics, Hook’s Charity, MGN Contracting and J&J Corner Storage, as well as countless monetary donations.

Gator Ken summed up the day’s event in five simple words “It’s all about the children!”
Thanks again for everyone’s support and to view more photos of the day’s event and guitar auctions, please go to Thunder Roads Florida Facebook and look for albums of St. Jude Run as well as Bike Week and Biketoberfest.