By Whitney Denson | Special to the Advertiser

Kelsey’s Place is hosting its first Poker Run on Saturday.

The Poker Run is an event in which participants ride on motorcycles to visit various checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one.

The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run.

The run will begin and end at Red Zone Bar and Grill, located at 209 Supercenter Drive in Calera.

Tickets are $20 per motorcycle, with an extra $5 for a second rider.

Proceeds from the run benefit Kelsey’s Place, a non-profit organization serving Chilton and surrounding counties.

Kelsey’s Place offers job readiness classes for adults, as well as one-on-one help with building resumes, filling out job applications and more.

“We’re doing this to help us continue to get more computers and update our current software,” office manager Betty Tidwell said. “We have to constantly update to make sure the people who come to us have everything they need to get employed.”

Participants must register prior to the race on Oct. 3 at Red Zone Bar and Grill.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. and “kickstands go up” at noon, when riders will begin the two and a half-hour ride.

The motorcycle with the best hand upon returning to the finish line will win $100, while the rider with the worst hand will receive a $50 prize.

After the race, riders can enjoy half-price food from Red Zone Bar and Grill’s menu, along with door prizes, a silent auction and a raffle.

Tidwell said college football games will also be playing at the restaurant.

Kelsey’s Place board member and avid motorcyclist Rickie Waldrop said she presented the idea to the board after participating in several poker runs of her own.

“I’ve done poker runs for years, so it was the obvious thing to do when we were looking for a new fundraiser,” Waldrop said. “It’s a new thing for a lot of people, but we’re looking to have a good turnout based on the feedback I’ve gotten so far.”

Waldrop said she estimated the route to be about 80 miles overall.

“We’re doing a simplified version of the poker run since it’s our first time,” she said. “We’re going to have one checkpoint at Peach Park, along with other stops for gas. We’re doing an old school version.”

Sponsors for the event include Harley Davidson, Heart of Dixie, Smith Brother Motorcycles of Columbiana, Midas of Clanton, Max Motorsports of Pelham, Montgomery Honda, Clanton Express Lube and Shane Headley Insurance.

“We expect to make this an annual event,” Tidwell said.

For more information, contact Kelsey’s Place at (205) 755-7101, located at 950 Lumac Road in Clanton.