Riders gather outside the Short Branch Saloon in Crystal after the Bordello Thunder Run last year. This will be the 4th annual event. The ride is scheduled for Feb. 23 and starts in Las Vegas or riders can register at the first stop which is The Chicken Ranch. Riders are treated to a rib-eye steak or chicken dinner with all the fixin's and live entertainment at the end of the 4th annual Bordello Thunder Run. Part of the proceeds from the event will go to benefit Adaptive Action Sports, a nonprofit organization involved with rehabilitation of amputees. Advertisement

On Saturday, Feb. 23, bikers from six states will be in Pahrump and Crystal for the 4th annual Bordello Thunder Run.

Motorcycle runs aren't unusual in these parts. Not long ago the Short Branch Saloon in Crystal sponsored a "Joke Her Poke Her" run in an effort to boost the bar business in Pahrump.

Most of these bike rides involve riding from place to place having a drink, drawing from a deck of cards for a winning poker hand, raffles for everything from hats to weekend getaways and ending with cash prizes and good food somewhere.

This ride will have all of that and more.

The now annual event started when Kathy Bragg bought the Short Branch in 2000 and having worked for the previous owner, she knew Larry Hughes as the guy who provided steaks for the menu. The two started talking and Bragg prodded Hughes to organize one of his renowned events for the local area. He was already executing another big event in Utah.

It took three years of periodically addressing the issue to spark Hughes into saying "yes" to the venture.

There are a number of reasons for this event. True, it is definitely a moneymaker, its fun and really draws a lot of participants and it raises money for a charity close to Hughes' heart.

Stef Purdy, Hughes partner in S & L Western Productions, has a daughter, Amy, who contracted Spinal Meningitis. Amy was an active young woman. She was an avid snowboarder, loved to ski and challenged herself at rock climbing. As a result of the meningitis, she lost both legs at the age of 18.

The good news - Amy wanted her life back and she got it. It took her all of three weeks to go back to snowboarding and skiing and rock climbing.

The S & L Western Productions events raised enough money to get her prosthetics and with that show of success and determination Amy decided to dedicate her time to working with other amputees to rehabilitate them so they too may enjoy a quality of life.

The family formed a nonprofit organization called Adaptive Action Sports and another offshoot called Adaptive Sports Medicine. Both organizations work with everyone from diabetes amputees to our soldiers injured in the war.

The Bordello Thunder Run is just one annual event where a large portion of the proceeds benefit these charities. Hughes said, "Last year, we donated a little over $3,000 just from this run."

It's called the Bordello Run because the pit-stops for the ride are brothels. The first stop is the Chicken Ranch and the second stop is Sheri's Ranch next door. Here, participants will draw cards for Black Jack. The winner takes home $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place.

Riders will make their way to the Short Branch in Crystal where the Black Jack winners will be awarded the prizes. There will also be raffles, live entertainment and great food.

The event encompasses 176 miles if riders leave from the sign-up location in Las Vegas. Skinny Dugan's is located at 4127 W. Charleston Blvd., between Valley View and Decatur. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The entry fee is $25 and includes the food and entertainment.

If riders aren't starting in Las Vegas, someone will be on hand at the first stop, The Chicken Ranch, to collect entry fees and pass out food tickets.

There will be a professional photographer set up at the stops to take individual and group photos for participants. The pictures will be available for purchase on his Web site (that information is not available at this time) and 50 percent of the proceeds will also be donated to the charity.

The raffles take place at the Short Branch and the big ticket items are paid entry fees to some of the other rides and getaways for a spa/golf weekend in Mesquite.

The food and entertainment are also at the Short Branch and that's food in a big way.

Hughes is providing 700 pounds of rib-eye steaks, 300 pounds of smoked chicken, 450 pounds of dutch oven potatoes and onions, 250 pounds of baked beans and 100 pounds of macaroni salad. "When folks get a taste of those dutch oven potatoes," Hughes said. "They aren't interested in macaroni salad."

Bragg said, "This is a huge event. Last year I had 1158 people through here."

A bike is not required to participate in the run. Cars are welcome, and full participation isn't necessary either. "Folks are welcome to come for the food and the music," Bragg said. The cost to non-participants is $17.

Bragg also noted that her rooms for rent will not be available for check-in until after 5 p.m. "People are welcome to bring RVs too," she said. "But I don't want them to park in the parking lot until after the run is over."

To get in on the fun, just show up at the Short Branch for a good steak and some lively entertainment. For more information call 775-372-1717.