While there is a $750 entry fee, boaters will have a chance to win up to $8,000 in cash and prizes at the third annual Cape Coral Poker Run to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.

Racing enthusiasts and the general public can also meet some of the big names in the sport, and see some of the biggest and fastest powerboats from around the world.

“The event is being hosted by Tarpon Point Marina, a beautiful facility,” said local coordinator Charlie Amorosi, an avid boater. “I’ve been doing boat poker runs for many years and many Poker Run America events, and when they planned this for Cape Coral it was a natural being involved especially since it benefits the Wounded Warriors Project. It’s the people that have defended our country, the wounded warriors.”

The Wounded Warriors Project started 10 years ago. It is an organization dedicated to assisting veterans requiring physical and psychological care.

Legends and celebrities from the boat racing world will be on hand, including Cape Coral’s Jim Angles, Terry Sobo and his Team Nor-Tech, Reggie Fountain and Velocity’s Steve Stepp. G-3 Racing’s Rick Merola and Gregg Rosen will be there with the Aqua Mania 50-foot turbine cat boat capable of speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour.

Some of the boats are 60 feet in length, with four engines producing over 7,000 horsepower, he said. They will be available for viewing at Tarpon Point Marina and the Resort at Marina Village and 47th Terrace.

The special poker run will accept any kind of boat, but generally are performance boats of all sizes, Amorosi said.

“We expect around 30 to 50 boats this year, and have registration right up to the day of the event.”

He’s taken part in the event for the last two years. “It’s a great group of people. Boaters by nature are very friendly with big hearts.”

To register for the poker run, you can call the Poker Run Hotline or just come to the event on Friday, from noon until 6 p.m. Pre-registration would be preferred.

The registration fee is $750.

A schedule for the event includes a Friday night finger food party, Saturday morning breakfast, Saturday afternoon lunch and Saturday night dinner.

“We’ll start at Tarpon Point where you get one card, run into the Gulf or Intercostal, go up to Fisherman’s Wharf in Punta Gorda for lunch, where they get a second card. Then we come back, tie up boats and get three cards. High hand wins.”

There will be three top prizes for the three biggest winners. The top hand gets cash and marine prizes, depending on the number of boats, that could be up to $8,000. Second place is estimated at $7,000 and third $3,000, both in cash and prizes.

For information and registration on the run itself, go to pokerruns-america.com or call 800-354-9145 ext. 252.

For more information on the Wounded Warriors Project call 877-832-6997 or visit woundedwarriorproject.org.