BRISTOL — St. Joseph’s Polish Society’s inaugural “T2T Poker Run” raised more than $5,000 for the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.

Richard Parent, permittee with St. Joseph’s Polish Society, said the motorcycle poker run at the St. Joseph’s Polish Society brought in $5,555 in donations. More than 40 area businesses donated raffle prizes. These prizes included $400 worth of BT pellets, lift tickets to Mount Southington and gift cards to area restaurants.

According to Parent, there were about 45 riders and about 40 passengers this year. He said there was a “very good” fundraising effort.

“We pulled it off on a very short timeline,” he said. “It takes a lot to put an event together like this. We’re very thankful to the businesses that donated. I am happy for the support that we received. We are at the 25-year anniversary of 9/11 and it’s great to see that people have not forgotten.”

Parent said Alvin Deschaine, club president, “led by example” and was the platinum donor.

“He brought a lot of people in,” he said.

Additionally, Parent especially thanked the Burlington Men’s Club for their support. He said bartenders worked throughout the day and donated their tips to the fundraiser. He said they work year-round to benefit the community.

“We can’t thank them enough,” he said.

The run started and ended at Saint Joseph’s Polish Society at 88 E. Main St. in Bristol. Motorcyclists made stops along the run that included VFW Post 269 at 114 Colebrook River Road in Winsted, VFW Post 511 at 41 Veterans Dr. in New Britain, the Burlington Men’s Club at 44 Corey Road in Burlington and Mulligan’s Grill & Tavern at 37 Greenwoods Road in New Hartford.

Food was served during the day at St. Joseph’s Polish Society and there was also a horseshoe tournament and live music by “The Evolution Project,” a classic rock band.

Proceeds supported the Tunnels To Towers Foundation’s Mission. Tunnels to Towers is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller, who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. After the World Trade Center was hit he ran from Brooklyn through the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel with 60 pounds of gear to assist at the Twin Towers. The Tunnels to Towers Foundation honors his memory by supporting first responders, military service members and their families.

Elizabeth Murphy, associate vice president of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, said funds raised from this event will help advance programs that provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families. They will also help to build “specially adapted smart homes” for “catastrophically injured” veterans and first responders and support work to eliminate veteran homelessness.

“We are grateful to the efforts of St. Joseph Polish Society and their partners in organizing this event and for the generosity of donors contributing auction items and other support,” Murphy said. “Contributions made in connection with this fundraiser play a meaningful role in helping the Foundation to continue its important work.”

Parent said St. Joseph’s Polish Society previously held a fundraiser called Mel’s Run for 18 years, with the last event being in 2022. That event, named after late club member Melvin Chesky, raised almost $200,000 over the years to support the diabetic ward at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

“We raised $2,500 in our first year and $23,000 in the last year, 2022,” he said.

With the fundraising goal for their previous fundraiser met, Parent said the club voted to choose another cause to support. He said Tunnels to Towers is dear to many people in the Bristol community.

“Tunnels to Towers helped to take care of the mortgages of the families of the two fallen police officers and to pay for their children’s college tuition,” he said.

Parent referred to Dustin DeMonte and Alex Hamzy, who were killed in the line of duty in an ambush shooting on October 12, 2022.