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Poker run benefits childrens home
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Mark Lisa joined in with the entertaining four piece band of Martin Martinez that played for the poker run lunch at the hospital’s conference center. - photo by GLENN KAHL
It was an excited “Hi-5” for a wide-eyed Stockton police officer who won the Doctors Hospital charity poker run Saturday morning – a $200 surprise.

Patrol officer Tessa Villines of Salida shared her excitement with DHM marketing agent Kathy McKinsey with a spontaneous hand slap after learning she had scored a straight flush in the motorcycle run that took some 60 riders up to the Mother Lode Saturday morning benefitting the Stockton Children’s Home in Stockton.

Beverly Ensley, of Manteca, took second place with her poker ride hand: a full house.  She drew her final card from run official Dave McKinsey as she was one of the last riders arriving back at the hospital.

Nearly 40 motorcycles left the Eagle’s Nest Harley Davidson dealership in Lathrop at 9:15 a.m. for trip that took them in places like Chinese Camp, Copperopolis, Valley Springs and Oakdale.  At each check stop the riders picked a playing card giving them a hand to play when they arrived back at the hospital.  Doctors Hospital administrator Mark Lisa and his wife were right there in the line of bikes.

The hospital staff and the hospital auxiliary had worked together to have a lunch ready for the riders on their return including salads, hot dogs and hamburgers, water, soft drinks and dessert.   In addition there was Martin Martinez, of Modesto, with his four-piece band providing background music.

Steve Stevenson of Stockton was the first to return – somewhat surprised saying he had four riders in front of him coming down the hill.   Stevenson’s day job is in the athletic department at Delta College.  He rode a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 on the trip adding that he enjoys taking part in the poker runs that include Hospice and fire fighters’ charity events.

Fred Hicks rode his Harley Ultra Classic with Gayle Hunt on her Harley 1200 Sportster.  It was her second poker run on her own bike out of some 12 in total.

As they sat at a table in the adjoining hospital cafeteria they said it was a great morning for a ride into the foothills.  She is a third grade teacher in Stockton and he is the regional manager for a paper company that reaches through the western states from Colorado to Hawaii.

The cost to the riders was $10 per rider and $5 per passenger.

The Doctors Hospital Auxiliary was taking donations for raffle tickets with half of the proceeds going toward their scholarship program and the other half to the rider holding the winning ticket.

Not only did the top card hand receive a prize but the lowest card hand did as well.  Michael Hernandez won in his losing poker hand.