The local chapter of the Blue Knights recently presented a check to “Homes for Our Troops”, an organization that helps provide homes for injured soldiers.

A check in the amount of $12,682.53 was presented by Doug Lamplugh to Larry Gill, veterans advocate for “Homes for Our Troops,” last week at Ed’s Shed on the Mobile Causeway. Lamplugh, a member of the Blue Knights, came up with the idea of the Blue Knights sponsoring a “Hero’s Poker Run” to raise money to help build a home for a local soldier, Marine Sgt. Greg Edwards, who was severely injured in the line of duty in Iraq. Though Homes for Our Troops is working to provide homes in 18 states now, this will be the first home built in the state of Alabama.

The Blue Knights is a nonprofit fraternal organization, whose members enjoy riding motorcycles and are active or retired law enforcement men and women. Alabama II chapter of the Blue Knights had a “Hero’s Poker Run” on Sept. 15.

This was a fund-raiser for building a handicapped accessible home for Edwards, who lost both legs while serving in Iraq.

Edwards is married, has two children and is still hospitalized at the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C.

An additional $25,400 has been committed from businesses and builders for materials, labor and furniture.

The Blue Knights also sold T-shirts, had a silent auction, raffle, a 50/50 drawing and received other generous contributions.

Blue Knights President Donald Ford of Alabama II chapter said the organization has about 35 members. While their main charity is the Boys’ Ranch, they decided to help Homes for Our Troops, because a lot of their members are veterans also.

“It was a honor for us to even be able to help him,” Ford said. Bikers, as a whole, look for anything to take care of, he said. Ford also hopes to be a part of Edwards’ life.

“We owe him an enormous debt. He lost his legs — I don’t think there is a monetary amount you could put on what he lost,” Ford said.

Ford said that Edwards’ parents are ecstatic and overwhelmed that their son will be coming home soon. Their Christmas wish is to have their son home by Christmas permanently, Ford said.

Veterans Advocate Larry Gill, who was wounded in Iraq in 2003, accepted the check on behalf of Homes for Our Troops. Gill was born in Mobile and currently lives in Semmes.

Homes for Our Troops was started by a homebuilder in Massachustts who was moved to action when he heard about a local soldier who lost both arms in an explosion, he said. Gill was asked to join the Homes of Our Troops organization. Almost $71,000 for the project for Edwards has been raised. “The land was purchased last week,” Gill said.

Edwards and his wife chose land in Irvington for their new home.

Other organizations also pitched it to help the Blue Knights with the poker run. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5660 provided a location for the poker run and furnished food, Don Dixon said.

Dixon, the commander of the post for this year and a Spanish Fort resident, said the VFW post has 544 members from all over Baldwin County.

Being a disabled vet from the Vietnam War, Dixon said Vietnam vets didn’t receive much support when they came home. “Now, vets especially feel that they should unite, jump in and help the Iraqi veterans and give them some closure that we didn’t have,” he said.

Since is the first project of this type in Alabama, Gill said invitations will go out to the Gov. Bob Riley and other government officials for the ceremonial groundbreaking.

The homes are specially adapted to help the veterans live independently. Products and technologies that will improve the usability of a home for a disabled veteran are required. A general contractor is still needed to spearhead this special project.

Donations can be made to “Home for Our Troops,” at any Regions Bank from Thomasville to Orange Beach (in the memo line, write in Sgt. Greg Edwards project).

For more information, go to the Web site at homesforourtroops.org or you can e-mail Gill at lgill@homesforourtroops.org.