22nd Anniversary HK Powersports Land & Lake Poker Run

Online registration is closed but you can register in-person beginning at 9am at any of the checkpoints!

Please join us for the ALL NEW Buccaneer Bash Pirate Themed Poker Run! Have FUN and come dressed as your favorite Pirate. Among other contests, there will be prizes for Best Dressed Crew, Best Pirate Ship (Yes! decorate your boat, car, motorcycle, or personal watercraft). Watch the 22nd Annual HK Powersports Land & Lake Poker Run TV Ad.

History of the Poker Run

Over 22 years ago, Kate Hamel, a former employee of Easterseals NH, was enjoying a meal at The NazBar & Grill. In striking up a conversation with Cynthia Makris, owner of The NASWA Resort, Kate suggested that the Lakes Region should put together a poker run, much like those done in the Florida Keys, minus trying to break speed records!

Immediately, Cynthia stated that she’d love to play a big role by hosting a party for the participants and that it should be a fundraiser. Kate and Cynthia decided they should raise funds for Easterseals NH because they help thousands of people of all ages and abilities, and the funds would go to a cause that people can really feel good about helping while having fun on the lake with their friends and families!

Thus, the Land and Lake Poker Run for Easterseals was born and through “people knowing people” a committee, which is still in existence today, was quickly formed.

Thanks to the generosity of many Lakes Region merchants like HK Powersports, Mix 94.1 FM, The NASWA Resort, and Irwin Marine, the Poker Run went from raising $18,000 the first year to raising over $1.67M for Easterseals NH and the clients they serve in our 22 year history!

Here are some of our major milestones showing how our fundraiser has grown over the years with your participation and support.

• 2001 Our first HK Powersports Land & Lake Poker Run raises $18,000 for Easterseals NH.
• 2002 Fundraising more than doubles to $40,000.
• 2009 We hit a milestone - $500,000 raised to date.
• 2016 The year we broke $1 million for the life of the event.
• 2022 We had our biggest single day of fundraising and went over the $1.67 million mark.

Check out this year's Auction Items!

Register today to join our merry band of Poker Run pirates on July 8, 2023!

What is a Poker Run?

A whole lot of summer fun for a good cause, that’s what! Participants travel by land or lake, stopping at checkpoints to pick up poker cards sealed in envelopes. Players go to all stops in order to build their hand, with The NASWA Resort in Laconia being the final card pickup location and stop for all players. Once at the final stop, judges open the envelopes containing the cards. The best land hand, the best lake hand, and the best high-roller hand all win cash prizes.

Please remember this is not a race. All boating and road safety rules must be followed.

Proceeds benefit Easterseals New Hampshire’s 11 core programs and the over 19,000 New Hampshire neighbors of all ages and varied abilities who depend on them to live, learn, work, and play to the fullest. Join us this year for our Pirate themed event and come dressed as your favorite marauder and enjoy the Buccaneer Bash at The NazBar!

Event Schedule

• 9:00 am Registration begins at all checkpoints
• 10:30 am Start
• 1:00 Buccaneer Bash Party opens at The NASWA Resort
• 1:30 pm Checkpoints close
• 2:30 pm Stage program of the LIVE auction, awards for best poker hands ($750 cash prizes awarded in the Land and Lake categories). $1,000 cash awarded to the ONE High Roller top hand.
• Grand Prize Raffle winners announced at the end of the stage program (you don’t have to be present to win!)

Checkpoints

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Thank you to our sponsors: