Poker Run Remembers Donny Nichols, KIA

A "poker run," silent auction, and other fund-raising events will be held in Eastern Iowa this Sat., Sept. 1, 2012.

The events will celebrate the memory of the Iowa Army National Guard's Spec. Donald L. Nichols, 21, killed April 13, 2011 while deployed with 2nd Brigade Combat Team (B.C.T.), 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division (2-34th BCT) in Eastern Afghanistan. Nichols was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment (1-133rd Inf.), which is based in Waterloo, Iowa.

In a poker run, registered participants are dealt random cards at each of five stops on a designated route. At the final stop of the day, the participant with the highest poker hand wins a pot of cash.

Proceeds will go to The Shell Rock (Iowa) Soldier Memorial, a project to honor past and present area soldiers.

Registration is Sat., Sept. 1, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The Cooler, 201 South Cherry St., Shell Rock, Iowa. The ride will begin at 11 a.m. Each poker "hand" is $15; 50-50 raffle at each stop; silent auction is scheduled for 4 p.m. Organizers say that "all types of wheels" are welcome, and that they hope to make the event an annual effort.

• Start: Shell Rock, Iowa at The Cooler

• 1st Stop: Waverly at Blake's Bar

• 2nd Stop: Fairbank at Boyd’s

• 3rd Stop: Oelwein at Von Tuck's / Dave's Place

• 4th Stop: Denver at Bart's End Zone

• Final Stop: Shell Rock at The Cooler & Klinc's

T-shirts and sweatshirts are also available for purchase.

For a Facebook page for the event, click here.

A website memorializing Nichols includes prize and route information for the event. (Warning: some pages auto-play music, so turn down your computer's volume.) The site also includes a video of tattoo and motorcycle art commemorating Nichols.