What do you get when you combine a great fall day, beautiful changing leaves on Aspen trees, and 105 motorcycles rumbling through the Colorado Foothills? On September 20th, you got the first Rebels for the Paws Poker Run.

The Rebels for the Paws are the creation of Bikers for Best Friends Ambassador Team leader Mark Stefanowski and Colorado Ambassador Kristin Bresnan. The vision is to grow the Rebels for the Paws rides as recruitment and promotional events for Bikers for Best Friends, raise funds and awareness for local animal organizations, and get riders from all over the United States to make a yearly journey to Kanab to experience the annual Bikers for Best Friends Poker Run that stops at the Sanctuary.

The Colorado ride was a scenic 134 mile tour of Boulder, Golden, and the Foothills just west of Denver. Riders stopped at some great establishments to draw cards to create a poker hand. In fact, one of the stops was the Longmont Humane Society, the local beneficiary of the event, where riders got to take a break from the ride and meet some of the animals available for adoption. Coinciding with National Puppy Mill Awareness Day, the event also allowed riders to hear some information about the dangers of Puppy Mills and pick up literature on how to avoid puppy mill dogs. As the day came to an end, the group was treated to a concert from local favorite, Brethren Fast and an amazing dinner.

Special thanks go out to High Country Harley Davidson/Buell in Frederick, CO for hosting the event and TombstoneCards.com for their generous sponsorship.

If you are interested in joining the Rebels for the Paws and setting up an event in your area in 2009, please contact Mark at mark@pledgeyourpassion.com.

Photo by Maria Greco