The ride, in which players also will compete at Yahtzee, will stop at county Legion posts.
PANAMA CITY — Local hospice centers can expect a boost courtesy of an upcoming event hosted by a veterans group.
American Legion Post 392, 535 Oak Ave. in downtown Panama City, is holding its ninth annual Hotzee Run on Jan. 13, during which veterans and anyone who wants to join can ride motorcycles or other vehicles throughout Bay County and play rounds of Yahtzee at different stops during the day.
“If anyone would like to come out that day and enjoy the event, they are always welcome,” said Post 392 Rider assistant director Matt Salvo, who’s handling the run. “We are always here for the veterans. Our motto is, ‘For the cause not the applause.’”
Post 392 is asking for a $10 donation to participate, and $30 if you want to ride a party bus, which includes a Yahtzee hand. Proceeds will go to local hospice centers, including Covenant Care, which has benefited from the fundraiser before.
“The men and women of the American Legion Riders have been faithful supporters year after year to our nonprofit organization," said Nanisa Head, director of major gifts for Covenant Care. "Their annual gift stays local to benefit veterans and patients in need of end of life hospice care. Through the last nine years, the event has grown significantly and draws people from across the Panhandle to participate.”
Post 392 holds the event every year, showing gratitude for the times its own members have been taken care of by hospice workers.
“It used to be to different bars, but now we go down to all the American Legion posts in Bay County,” Post 392 Rider director David Shaw said. “We have some bonus stops. We start at the Sims Veterans Home because we want to get the veterans involved. They always come outside. We have breakfast out there and we visit with the veterans before we go on our ride. ... Just come out and enjoy the day with us. It’s a good time and we support a great organization.”
Sign-up is scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. at Sims, 4419 Tram Road in Panama City, and the route will include stops at American Legion posts in Panama City Beach, Southport and Lynn Haven before returning to Post 392. The last bike in is expected at 3 p.m., after which there will be a score tally, live music, raffle drawings and auctions. Food also will be served at Post 392 from noon to 6 p.m. or until it’s gone. The party bus leaves Post 392 at 10 a.m.
“The last two years we’ve had great weather and great turnouts," Shaw said. "We usually have between 300 and 400 bikes. The bus is usually packed. We’ve sold it out. This is our third year with the bus. ... [Hospice centers] have taken care of our members, but if you’ve ever been to the hospice, what they do is just amazing. I had a friend who had cancer. What they did, it’s not just for the patient, but it’s for the family as well. It’s very dear to us.”
Last year the run raised $15,000. For more information, call Shaw at 850-866-9639 or Post 392 at 850-215-4535.