Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006

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WPT to raise money for breast cancer research

By Sarah Polson

The World Poker Tour (WPT) will be raising money and awareness for breast cancer research in the weeks leading up to the Ladies' Night event at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles with an online auction, a poker tournament, and other avenues of donation.

The online auction began Friday and features four day-spa gift certificates, a seat at this year's WPT Celebrity Invitational in Los Angeles, and 12 box seat tickets to an L.A. Clippers basketball game. The auction runs through Sept. 5, and the net proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Since its creation, the Komen Foundation has invested $630 million in breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment programs.

The Bicycle Casino will also host a gala and cocktail hour Aug. 19 to give people the opportunity to show their support for breast cancer research and bid on the auction items. The gala will also lead into the opening day of the Ladies' Poker Party Open where the final player in the WPT Ladies' Night IV will be determined.

Ten percent of the $100 buy-in for the Ladies' Poker Party Open will also be donated to the Komen foundation. The Bicycle is inviting all women over 21 to play and show their support for the charity. Players are also encouraged to donate more than the initial buy-in to the tournament and people can also give donations at the WPT Web site.

"We are thrilled that the Komen Foundation has come on board to join forces with WPT Ladies' Night and the fight against breast cancer," said Robyn Moder, co-founder and executive vice president of World Poker Tour Enterprises, Inc. "We at the WPT feel this is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the importance of breast cancer awareness and to celebrate women poker players at the same time. Our goal is to make this annual program grow in stature and monies raised each year so that we can help in the quest to find a cure."

The Travel Channel, which televises the WPT Ladies' Night, will be making contributions to the charity, and the WPT has pledged to donate $5,000 in honor of the event winners.

For more information about the WPT Ladies' Night, please read Tilly Set To Defend WPT Title.

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