ALPENA — The third annual Blessing of the Bikes to benefit Hope Shores Alliance is scheduled for Saturday.

Hope Shores Alliance is a nonprofit organization that provides services to men, women and children who are victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Registration for the event kicks off at 9 a.m. in the Eagle Supply parking lot, 319 W. Chisholm St., in Alpena.

“Pastor Leslie Nye will be going to each individual bike and she will do a blessing of it,” Beverly Banks, who sits on the Hope Shores Board of Directors, said. “Historically, usually, what we have at the Blessing of the Bikes is for a good riding season.”

Banks said driving or riding on a motorcycle can sometimes be dangerous, with all the distractions that can divert a driver’s attention from the roads. Banks said she has even brought her helmet to have it blessed at the event.

A poker run and scavenger hunt will begin immediately following the ceremony and will conclude at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, 1960 M-32. The poker run costs $15, plus $5 for an additional rider, and includes a dinner at the Eagle’s Club between 5 and 7 p.m. A silent auction and bike show will also be held at the Eagle’s Club.

“We give them a set of clues and they will go off and figure out those clues and then they will take a selfie picture with whatever that item might be,” Banks said.

Banks said that, at the end of each location, participants will then draw a card. Whomever has the best poker hand at the end of the day will receive a cash prize. Poker cards are due between 4 and 6 p.m. at the Eagle’s Club. The winning poker hand will receive $100 in cash while the poker hand that comes in second place will receive $50.

Banks said Hope Shores Alliance was also able to get permission from the City of Alpena to allow motorcycles on the covered bridge that connects Duck Park to Sportsman’s Island. Banks said that, for $10, bikers will be able to get a photo of themselves and their bike on the bridge between 11:30 a.m and 5:45 p.m.

Funds from the event will benefit Hope Shores. Banks said a lot of the funding the organization receives from the state or federal government has strict guidelines on how the money can be used, but money from the fundraiser can be spent without restrictions.

“Say, for example, that one of our recipients of services needs money to get to a doctor’s appointment or to get to the court system, then we can buy a gas card to give to that person so they can make it to where they need to,” she said.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.

If you go

∫ WHAT: Blessing of the Bikes

∫ WHEN: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday

∫ WHERE: Registration happens at Eagle Supply, 319 W. Chisholm St., poker run and scavenger hunt happens throughout the city and events conclude at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, 1960 M-32.

∫ HOW MUCH: Poker run costs $15, plus $5 for an additional rider

∫ INFO: Event is a fundraiser for Hope Shores Alliance, which provides services to men, women and children who are victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence living in Alpena, Alcona, Iosco, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties. Visit hopeshores.org for more information.