Support Our Troops Poker Run
The 19th Annual Support Our Troops Poker Run is set to return to Lake of the Ozarks June 12–13, 2026, bringing another major weekend of performance boating, patriotic support, and charitable fundraising to one of the country’s most recognized boating destinations. Organized through Big Thunder Marine, the annual poker run directly benefits H.E.R.O.E.S. Care, a nationwide support network serving military families before, during, and after deployment.
Since launching in 2008, the Support Our Troops Poker Run has raised more than $328,000 benefiting military families and veterans through emergency financial assistance, mental health care support, employment programs, and community caregiving services. Organizers emphasize that 100% of poker run registration proceeds are donated directly to H.E.R.O.E.S. Care and its affiliated partner organizations.
The 2026 event headquarters will once again center around Dog Days Bar & Grill and the Big Thunder Speed & Luxury Showroom.
Registration for the 2026 poker run requires a minimum $200 donation and includes participation in the organized run while helping support military families across the country. Organizers are also encouraging participants to take active-duty troops and military families out on the lake throughout the event weekend, continuing one of the poker run’s most meaningful traditions.
The event features multiple poker stops around Lake of the Ozarks along with raffles, sponsor activities, and prize opportunities throughout the weekend. Cash payouts for the 2026 event include:
• 1st Place Poker Hand — $1,500
• 2nd Place Poker Hand — $1,000
• 3rd Place Poker Hand — $500
Participants will also have opportunities to win additional raffle prizes throughout the event, with bonus raffle entries awarded for every official stop completed during the run.
Known for combining patriotism with Lake of the Ozarks performance boating culture, the Support Our Troops Poker Run regularly attracts offshore catamarans, V-bottoms, center consoles, cruisers, and custom-built performance boats from across the Midwest and beyond.
The event weekend officially begins Friday morning and continues through Saturday evening with organized poker run activities, marina gatherings, dockside social events, and sponsor showcases around the lake.
As one of the longest-running charitable poker runs at Lake of the Ozarks, the Support Our Troops Poker Run continues to stand out not only for the boats and lake atmosphere, but for its direct mission supporting military families and veterans through meaningful charitable impact.