Local marathoner organizes $25 buy in poker benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association.

Here’s a game of poker that you can’t really lose.

It’s a $25 buy in, sponsored by the Point Casino and Kitsap Running and Walking Co., 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the American Legion Post 245, 27580 Breidablik Lane in Poulsbo. Regardless of who comes away with the most chips, all the money raised from the event will benefit cancer research and services — providing that proverbial win-win for all involved.

It’s local distance runner and running shoe saleswoman Ellen Dougherty’s way of giving back to the national Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program.

Established in 1988, touted as the world’s largest endurance sports training program, Team in Training provides coaching and inspiration to amateur endurance athletes in exchange for their raising funds for the cause.

Over the past 20 years, nearly 400,000 volunteers across the country have collectively helped raise more than $900 million for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services.

Here in Poulsbo, Dougherty is aiming to add another $4,000 to that growing sum in advance of her next marathon. WU

Info: Call Ellen at (360) 697-5724.