Mickey Steele Poker Run and Golf Tournament raises funds for Special Olympics Maryland

GRASONVILLE, Md. – The Mickey Steele Golf Poker Run and Golf Tournament has raised almost 2 million dollars in 19 years with the help of former athletes.

Recently, the Poker Run took place at the Fisherman’s Crab Deck past Queenstown. It was held to help raise money for Special Olympics of Maryland and it also benefited the Andrew Rypien Cancer Care foundation. More than 100 people showed up to raise money and have fun. A lot of the people were playing poker.

Ron Steele’s brother Mickey started this Poker Run and Golf Tournament to honor his brother Mickey Steele who loved sports. Mickey battled Acute Myeloid Leukemia AML for two years before he passed.With the Poker Run and Golf Tournament his legacy continues.

Steele mentioned why Special Olympics Maryland is one of the organizations that benefits from this special event: “My mom was a Special Olympics teacher assistant for 15 years so that’s where Special Olympics comes in as well,” said Steele,

“I was at the first Special Olympics in bird stadium at the University of Maryland when I was probably 12 so that’s the connection there.”

At the Poker Run there were some former outstanding athletes like Baltimore Orioles player Rick Dempsey, former Washington football player Joe Washington, Russ Grimm, Chip Lohmiller, and more. Former Washington football player Lohmiller has shown up to this event almost every year: “We’re a good group who want to give back to the community,” said Lohmiller. Lohmiller added that he does his best to give back to the community.