Ardmore's Wounded Soldier's Poker Ride

Ardmore, OK - Saturday in Ardmore, members from the South Central Oklahoma Guard Dogs sponsored a poker ride to raise funds for a program benefiting wounded soldiers. The wounded warrior program provides America's wounded soldiers a backpack filled with personal items until they are reunited with their own. KTEN's Hailee Holliday reports.

Guard Dog members say raising money for these backpacks is so important because soldiers who are wounded are removed from the battlefield with only what they have with them at the time of their injury. The backpack is given to the soldier once he is placed in a hospital. It's filled with toiletries, a c-d player, phone cards and other personal items. Guard Dog members add that the wounded warrior program is even expanding to help provide transportation for family members to go and see their wounded loved ones. Members believe Saturday was a wonderful day for riding and they were especially pleased with the turnout of 80 bikers.

Road captain, Ken Gould, says, "Oh it's great. It's been about 137 miles. We got to go visit with some of the veterans at the Sulphur Veteran Center and we've really enjoyed ourselves."

Some members are veterans themselves and a few will be deployed soon. They say they feel Saturday's ride was very successful and want to do anything they possibly can to make those wounded feel a little bit more comfortable until they receive the personal items they left behind.

Hailee Holliday, KTEN News

News Added: 16 September, 2007

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