Kai Harwick is a 25-year-old Whatcom County firefighter. His colleague, John Nourse, is a 29-year-old police officer and former firefighter who was recently diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. Kai, who is a motorcyclist, decided to do something to help his friend and colleague. So a couple of months ago he began organizing a poker run.

Kai established a non-profit to handle the money, recruited volunteers to help out, gathered prizes from local sponsors, planned the route, coordinated stops at other firehouses and promoted the event within the fire service community. All of Kai’s preparations came together last Saturday morning in the parking lot of Whatcom County Fire District 4, Station 12.

I arrived early to find Kai and his parents setting up registration tables. Coffee, bottled water, doughnuts, granola bars, and bananas were available for riders. I had a chance to talk to Kai briefly and he expressed some nervousness about the day’s event going well; hoping that he had planned well. He need not have worried.

When the group gathered in front of Station 12 for a photo, there were over 40 bikes lined up and the John Nourse Cancer Fund had collected $1000. Most of the riders where active or retired fire service members. Sport bikes, cruisers, dual sports and Gold Wings had all come together for a common cause.

The route took the group to firehouses in Whatcom and Skagit County. At the after party, held at the Ferndale Bob’s Burgers and Brews, I asked Kai how he think it went. He said that he had learned a lot and that there were a few things he will do differently next year. Seeing the results of Kai’s first effort, I have no doubt that next year’s event will be bigger and better.