North West NSW HOGs poker run for Ronald McDonald House

For the past seven years, the North West NSW Harley-Davidson Owners Group have sponsored a room at the house, which is home away from home for those who need it most.

It’s a cause close to the heart of the North West Chapter, club director Alana Embleton said.

“We had a family stay here a few years ago, who had a little boy born in the hospital and they called him Harley,” Ms Embleton said.

The club will hold its annual poker run on Sunday, January 22, with $5000 from the event going towards sponsoring the room.

Ms Embleton said bikes of all makes and models were welcome to join the ride, which would start from Western Ranges Motorcycles at 9.30am, head out to Attunga, then Kentucky, before finishing at Kootingal Bowling Club.

Tamworth Ronald McDonald House spokeswoman Debby Herdegen said it cost about $130 a night to provide the room, so the year-round support of the HOGs was a huge weight off the shoulders of organisation.

“To get local guys like this who sponsor a room on an ongoing basis is huge, that’s $5000 less we’ve got to go looking for,” she said.

Known as “The Harley Room”, the en-suite lives up to its name, completely decked out in Harley Davidson merchandise.

Ms Herdgen said the room was a hit with families, who appreciated its special touch.

“We often have families ring and if they’ve stayed before, they’ll ask if The Harley Room is free,” she said, laughing.