KINGSTON — A local motorcycle club is organizing a poker run to benefit a Kingston firefighter fighting kidney cancer.

The New Hampshire Red Knights Chapter 5 will hold the run June 23 beginning at the Kingston Fire Department and ending at Manchester Harley-Davidson.

Half of the proceeds will benefit Lt. Scott McClellan while the other half will be donated to the Mayo Clinic to support kidney cancer research.

McLellan, 45, was diagnosed with renal cancer in October. He is one of four full-time members of the Kingston Fire Department and has been out of work since the diagnosis.

“It’s time to help one that helps others in times of emergencies,” said fire Capt. Doug Butland, one of the event organizers.

Planning began about six months ago when the Red Knights chose McLellan and the Mayo Clinic as the beneficiaries of this year’s charity run.

Butland said he hopes to see between 50 and 200 motorcyclists participating in the run. Registration will start at 8 a.m. and motorcyclists will leave the Kingston Fire Department at 10 a.m. with a police motorcade leading the way. Several fire departments are planning to show their support along the route.

The run includes stops at the Sandown Fire Department, Myles Travel Plaza in Auburn, and the Common Man restaurant in Windham before ending at Manchester Harley-Davidson for a cookout. Food has been donated by 180 Bar and Grill, a North Hampton restaurant owned by Kingston fire Capt. Graham Pellerin.

Butland said thousands of dollars in prizes will be offered at the event, including a $3,500 motorcycle paint job donated by Darois Designs Custom Paint and Graphics in Raymond.

The cost of the run is $25 per rider and $10 for each passenger.

jschreiber@newstote.com