Revealed July 08. 2024 01:09PM
by James Logue Jr. tneditor@tnonline.com
Dropping a beloved one to most cancers may be devastating.
Within the case of David Formica of Jim Thorpe, who handed away in 2006 on the age of 15, it was particularly troublesome.
David’s sister, Heather, determined to create the David F. Formica Memorial Poker Run to assist elevate cash for most cancers analysis and to maintain David’s reminiscence alive.
Fifteen years later, the poker run has completed simply that. This 12 months’s occasion, which is the final one they’ll maintain, was held Saturday, and raised $8,578.
The poker run has raised over $85,000 over time. Along with their different fundraising efforts, the Formica household and supporters have raised roughly $388,000.
The cash raised goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; and to the Ronald McDonald Camp in Greeley, a camp for households of these with most cancers; and to a scholarship fund created in David’s identify at Jim Thorpe Space Excessive Faculty.
“We have now an incredible group of people who come out and help us yearly and convey new folks in,” Pam Formica, David’s mom, mentioned. “We’re simply so grateful to everybody that they arrive out to recollect David and assist make his dream come true.”
Roughly 70 riders (bikes and different autos) registered and acquired their first poker card at Annie’s Ice Cream on North Road, Jim Thorpe. From there, they traveled to Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Jim Thorpe; Packerton Outdated Timers Membership, Pine Road, Lehighton; Orioles Nest #183, Lehighton; and the bar at Knepper’s Inn, West Penn Pike, New Ringgold.
The ultimate cease was on the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Membership, Lehighton, the place individuals loved a pig roast supplied by Meyers Catering, a silent public sale, 50/50 drawing, and leisure by Layne “The Doc” Roberts from Colossal Radio.
Whereas this was the ultimate poker run, David’s household will proceed to carry different fundraising occasions.
Sponsors for the 2024 run included: Annie’s Ice Cream, A. D. Residence Inspections LLC, Packerton Outdated Timers Membership, Mauch Chunk Pharmacy, Beaver Run Rod and Gun Membership, Twin Angels (Sandy Moran), Lehighton Orioles Nest 183, Agentis Kitchen & Tub, Mauch Chunk 5 and 10, Meyers Catering, 5 Star Sealcoating LLC, Tim Sohn, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Financial institution, Southbound Consulting Companies, Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps, Ann and Sal Mint, Huge Daddy’s Storage, and Paul Yoder Images.
Motorcyclists line as much as depart Annie’s Ice Cream on North Road, Jim Thorpe, to assist elevate funds within the fifteenth Annual David F. Formica Memorial Poker Run. JAMES LOGUE JR./SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS