YOUNGSTOWN Motorcyclists join fight against disease

The poker run will raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
By ROB MEYER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Though Estelle Colello died of multiple sclerosis three years ago, her memory continues to live on through her son, Chris.
Chris Colello of Austintown, president of the Chapter 1 Teamsters Local 377 and its motorcycle association, The Horsemen, was with his mother through all of the pain and suffering she endured each day.
When she finally lost her battle to MS, Chris decided to help others in their fight with the disease. That's why the annual Estelle Colello Defeat MS Memorial Poker Run was created.
Colello said last year's poker run raised $5,000. The goal this year is $10,000.
The fund-raiser will take place Sunday and will begin at the Teamsters Local 377 Hall at 1223 Teamster Drive. About 1,200 to 1,500 people are expected to take part.
How it works
For those not familiar with what a poker run is, the participants, on motorcycles, depart with a police escort, together in a 2x2 line from the Teamsters Hall. The trip will be a total of 102.4 miles.
There are five stops along the way. At the first stop, each participant is given a piece of paper marked with all four suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs) of a playing-card deck, in addition to the numbers 2 through 10, king, queen, jack and ace. Then, at each stop, each participant blindly picks a card out of a paper bag. The card is marked on their piece of paper. When all five cards are picked, each participant has a poker hand. If a person has a bad hand, they can "throw away" as many cards as they wish and purchase new cards for $5 each.
There are four categories in the run: solo, rider, passenger and group. The participants with the best and worst poker hands in each category win a trophy. The overall winner also gets a trophy.
Participants must pay a $10 fee, which covers a continental breakfast and lunch.
Registration on Sunday begins at 10 a.m. at the Teamsters Hall. Pre-registration is available through Friday at the Pink Elephant bar on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
All proceeds will go to the MS Society of Mahoning County.
The fund-raiser will also feature a Chinese Auction, door prizes and 50-50 raffles. Food and beverages will be provided at stops along the way and at the end of the run.
For more information, call (330) 793-2625.
rmeyer@vindy.com