By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

A local event planned for Saturday will have people hitting the road for a good cause.

Hays Medical Center employees have planned a benefit poker run. Proceeds will benefit the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute.

"Several of us have had loved ones, or friends, or relatives -- we've all been affected by cancer," said Rose Ann Dreiling, a senior human resources representative at Hays Med. "So we just all started talking."

The event will begin at 1 p.m. with registration at the shelter house east of the hospital's main campus. Cost is $10 for one hand and $25 for three hands plus a specially designed event patch.

All vehicles are welcome.

The hospital's cancer institute has expressed interest in using proceeds to renovate a chemotherapy room, said Ruth Heffel, executive director of the Hays Medical Center Foundation.

The event will be organized Texas hold 'em style. Participants will begin at the hospital and travel through Plainville, Stockton, Hill City and WaKeeney to pick up additional cards.

The total distance is about 130 miles, and the group will travel two-lane highways, said Lance Smith, manager of the hospital's bio-med department.

"You get to see Kansas," Smith said.

The person with the best hand will win $150, while the worst poker hand will earn a $100 prize.

A freewill donation meal will be provided at the hospital following the event.

The poker run will feature an open-release, meaning participants can begin any time. The first vehicles can leave at 1:05 p.m., and all should return by 5 p.m.

The community event follows the implementation of monthly poker runs designed for hospital employees. About 30 employees have been attending those events.

"Anybody that owns a motorcycle, the goal is to ride and have fun," Smith said. "That's why you buy it, is you want to be out, you want to be doing things. And this is just one thing you can do to give back to either the community or our facility."