The Casey’s Ride poker run and charity benefit raises money annually to benefit a local cancer patient. The 6th annual event, held Aug. 18, raised $5,030 for this year’s recipient, Rose Pierce.
Casey’s Ride was started in 2012 by Darrell Hanke in memory of his son, Casey, following Casey’s battle with leukemia. Casey Hanke passed away in 2011 at the age of 22.
The first three years of Casey’s Ride raised money for Hope Lodge in Marshfield, where Casey’s family stayed during his treatments. Donations to Hope Lodge over those three years totaled just under $10,000.
The fourth year of Casey’s Ride, organizers determined that it was time to try and make an impact in Casey’s memory for the Merrill community. Over the past two years, the event has raised over $10,000 for two local cancer patients.
This year’s recipient, Rose Pierce, is a Merrill resident who was diagnosed with a stage 4 glioblastoma brain tumor in January 2018. She has undergone two brain surgeries, chemotherapy and over 30 radiation treatments. The proceeds from Casey’s Ride will help Rose with her medical bills.