The History of Ladies' Pink Poker: Char's Story
Lisa Viker, Charlene Gerads, Becky Restad, Linda Ristow
Char's Story
In the spring of 1992, Charlene “Char” Gerads was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Char, wife of Lee and the mother of three boys, Joshua, Jacob, and Michael, was only 37 at the time.
Ever the optimist and fighter, Char quickly turned her fear and helplessness into action. She put together a medical plan with the doctors, found comfort in cancer support groups, and continued to work through God’s plan for her.
In the spring of 1992, Charlene “Char” Gerads was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Char, wife of Lee and the mother of three boys, Joshua, Jacob, and Michael, was only 37 at the time.
Ever the optimist and fighter, Char quickly turned her fear and helplessness into action. She put together a medical plan with the doctors, found comfort in cancer support groups, and continued to work through God’s plan for her.
The First Ladies’ Pink Poker Night
Char held the first Ladies’ Pink Poker Night as an excuse to bring her friends together for a night of sisterhood, to teach friends how to play Texas Hold 'Em, and to lavishly decorate the house in pink.
Lisa Viker (Chair “Lady” of the now annual Ladies’ Pink Poker Night) recalls the extravagant pink evening:
"The evening started with a short instruction of the rules and poker basics. Then the game began. Women were, and still are, allowed to ask questions throughout the game. The drinks continued, the food continued, the cards continued and, most of all, the laughter and the fun went all night.
As ladies dropped out of the tourney, the conversation got louder and the game less important, but we always had a great night and everyone went away with a Pink Elephant Prize, a full belly, and a smile. Of course, they also left with a little more comfort and knowledge about a game that Charlene really enjoyed and wanted more women to play. We have tried to preserve the original Ladies’ Pink Poker Night as designed by Charlene.
We’ve made some changes to accommodate more people and raise money, but the spirit of the game remain. It’s a night for ladies to celebrate sisterhood, laugh, and learn poker."
Char held the first Ladies’ Pink Poker Night as an excuse to bring her friends together for a night of sisterhood, to teach friends how to play Texas Hold 'Em, and to lavishly decorate the house in pink.
Lisa Viker (Chair “Lady” of the now annual Ladies’ Pink Poker Night) recalls the extravagant pink evening:
"The evening started with a short instruction of the rules and poker basics. Then the game began. Women were, and still are, allowed to ask questions throughout the game. The drinks continued, the food continued, the cards continued and, most of all, the laughter and the fun went all night.
As ladies dropped out of the tourney, the conversation got louder and the game less important, but we always had a great night and everyone went away with a Pink Elephant Prize, a full belly, and a smile. Of course, they also left with a little more comfort and knowledge about a game that Charlene really enjoyed and wanted more women to play. We have tried to preserve the original Ladies’ Pink Poker Night as designed by Charlene.
We’ve made some changes to accommodate more people and raise money, but the spirit of the game remain. It’s a night for ladies to celebrate sisterhood, laugh, and learn poker."
