More than 100 people attended the Perry Elks Lodge late Saturday afternoon as the eighth annual Josh Davis Memorial Poker Run ended with a dinner and auction.
Students in the Perry High School junior class were on hand to help serve the hungry riders a dinner of pulled pork, beans, pasta salads, chips and more.
A 50/50 drawing was held, with the winner donating his $225 back to the charities supported by the event, which honors the late Josh Davis of Perry, a Lance Cpl. in the U.S. Marine Corps who was killed in action in Afghanistan May 7, 2010. Davis was a 2009 PHS grad.
One of the organizers of the annual event, Jerry Anderson, said the first ride hoped to raise $500 to give as a scholarship in Davis’ name. The annual poker run has become so popular, he said, that more than $14,000 was raised last year.
The riders’ generosity has enabled organizers to award several PHS scholarships each year and to support a long list of veteran-related charities, including the Puppy Jake Foundation, Retrieving Freedom and the Iowa Patriot Guards[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Honoring all who have fallen or served in defense of the country, the event also raises funds to help maintain the Josh Davis Memorial Plaza in downtown Perry.
It was announced Saturday that the Josh Davis memorial rock at Dewey Field and other items donated by classmates and others will be moved inside the grounds of the newly renovated field, with money raised by the poker run helping fund the move. Davis played on Dewey Field as a member of the PHS football team.
