The sixth year of Annabelle’s Annual Poker Tournament raised over a thousand dollars for cancer care, travel and education in the community.
The event was last Sunday at the Tides Inn. It honors poker player, artist and longtime KFSK volunteer Annabelle Baker. The proceeds are donated to Beat the Odds, which raises money for cancer patients, their families and care givers. One of the event’s organizers and participants Jeigh Stanton Gregor said this year’s total is $1230.
“With year six it feels really good to keep making money for Beat the Odds and having good people together once a year to celebrate a good friend and we’re going to keep doing it as long as we can,” he said.
There were 20 players again this year and the game lasted about seven hours.
Another past organizer of the event Jeb Morrow took first place and he won two thousand dollars. Bike shop owner Pat Blair took second and won 1300 dollars.
Stanton Gregor said the event is a good way to keep Baker, who passed away in 2012, in mind.
“Every year people really seem to embrace the Annabelle tournament whether they knew her or not,” Stanton Gregor said. “People ask a lot of questions. Like Pat who was playing, asked questions about who she was what she was like in town. It’s a really good opportunity to help not just in keep her memory going but spread it even further in town.”
He thinks the event could be held a little earlier next fall to boost participation.
Editor’s note: The author of this article is also a member of the Beat the Odds Committee that decides on how that money is distributed.
