Just before noon Saturday, Hanford firefighter Dave Rossman directed a motorcycle into a parking space outside Nashville Bar & Grill on 11th Avenue. Around him, other members of the Hanford Professional Fire Fighters Union did the same, guiding in hog after hog until more than 200 passed through town.

Bikes of every shape and size rode through the shopping center in North Hanford: Cruisers, sports bikes, touring motorcycles, choppers and street rods. Some had sidecars, a few had three wheels. One trailed a raccoon tail behind it, flapping in the breeze as it charged down the road.

Men, women and the occasional child climbed off their rides and marched past red-shirted firefighters into the restaurant. Many wore jeans, black leather vests and black gloves. Some had bandanas and beards and tattoos. Typical biker gear, even in 97-degree heat.

Inside, they stopped in front of a small wooden table.

"Pick a card, any card."

Saturday marked the second annual Central Valley Heroes 2009 Poker Run, in which emergency services personnel, friends and family members ban together to ride their Harleys for a good cause.

"This year all of the money we raise is going to the Alisha Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and to the family of Tulare County firefighter Dan Campbell, who passed away recently," Rossman said. "Each year we choose a different emergency services worker as a beneficiary. In the event of a grave illness or, God forbid, an untimely death, we try to help the families out."

The nonprofit foundation has offices in Fresno as well as other parts of the state and was named after an 8-year-old girl who was killed in a backyard barbecue accident.

Each rider pays a fee of $30 to $45 to enter, depending on how many people will be riding on the bike. This money pays for lunch, a poker card and a Heroes Poker Run T-shirt. The rest goes to charity.

"We do this because it's for a good cause and because we want to support these people," Visalia police Officer Steve Phillips said. He rode into town Saturday with his wife, Lori, on his Victory motorcycle.

Dave Haynes, a mechanic at Corcoran State Prison, said it's a great excuse to go riding.

"My son-in-law is a firefighter, so I have a personal interest in this," he said. "This isn't just an excuse to ride, but a good excuse. In the past, I've been involved in toy runs, leukemia fundraiser runs, Toys For Tots, just different ways to help support people out there."

The poker aspect of the trip comes from the five stops the bikers make. Riding from Visalia to Exeter, then Tulare, Hanford and back out to Visalia, each rider stops at a designated location and draws a card. When the five cards are added together, they form a poker hand, and in turn, a chance for that participant to win a prize donated by local businesses.

This is the first time Hanford has been included in the list of stops for the Heroes Poker Run.

Local city firefighters Dustin Costa and Derek Wisser volunteered to help run the Hanford stop, even though they had no intention of riding along with the rest of the group.

"I prefer a seat belt and a steering wheel, myself," Costa said, laughing. "But, it's a great program. If something ever happens to one of us, it's good to know there are programs like this, which can help us and our families out."

Hanford police Officer Per Westlund rode in with the slogan "Bad Pig" written across his shirt.

"Firefighters and police officers are like a brotherhood," he said. "In every town we go through, the firefighters are out with their engines, honking their horns, cheering us on. It's really awesome."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Sept. 20, 2009)