Published: June 21, 2009 11:48 pm      

Stars set to ride for charity

National publicity and a new book depicting the story of the Rev. Sam Childers’ fight for children ripped apart by violence in Uganda and Sudan have brought support from some top stars and other celebrities.

When he asked for help raising money through a motorcycle ride and party during Thunder in the Valley, there was no shortage of big-name volunteers.

Sam Elliott and Peter Fonda were on the short list – until they looked into travel and scheduling arrangements.

“We can’t get them in,” Childers said, pointing to major cutbacks in Pittsburgh International Airport flights.

Despite the scheduling issues, a growing slate of celebrities will be on hand for Angels of East Africa benefit ride, which revs up at 8 a.m. Friday at Somerset Harley-Davidson. As many as 500 riders will hit the road to Johnstown for a catered lunch in Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center,

301 Napoleon St.

Participants will return to Somerset for another catered meal and celebration with local bands, Split Image and Open Road. They will be joined on stage by Jim Rich, former Baptist minister and father of country music star John Rich of Big and Rich.

John Rich, a three-time American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Songwriter/Artist Of The Year award-winner, is still trying to make his own arrangements to come to Johnstown, Childers said.

Other celebrities confirmed include actress Pamela Bach from the cast of Baywatch, who was formerly married to David Hasselhoff.

Also “General Hospital” actor Sebastian Roche, reality television celebrity Jason Wahler of “The Real Orange County,” professional wrestlers Hotrod “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Outrageous” Al Burke.

“Those people are 100 percent confirmed,” Childers said. “We have flight information for them. I hope by Monday, we’ll have a couple more surprises.”

Trouble is, most of the celebrities are in Los Angeles, which has one nonstop flight to Pittsburgh – a “red eye” that takes off at 10:15 p.m. Los Angeles time, and lands at 5:40 a.m. Pittsburgh time. Flying to Washington’s Dulles International Airport would require a long drive, or layover until the commuter flight to Johnstown takes off.

Major stars try to avoid layovers, Childers said.

“A lot of people don’t leave them alone,” Childers said. “You need to bring security. It turns into a big ordeal.”

As late as Thursday evening, Pennsylvania-native Sharon Stone was still planning to make the trip.

“This cause is very important to Sharon,” her publicist Samantha Mast said in an e-mail.

The situation changed by Friday afternoon.

“Unfortunately a work commitment has come up and Sharon is now unable to come back east to see her family or to witness Mr. Childer’s ride,” Mast wrote. “She’s so appreciative of your request and that you were interested in speaking with her about the ride and perhaps next time we can schedule something.”

There will still be plenty of excitement, Childers said. He’s keeping most of the secrets for those who join the event in support of the children that have become his driving passion.

“I’m not allowing any media into the events,” Childers said.

Cost of the ride is $200 for a bike and driver, and $250 for a bike, driver and passenger. It includes all three meals, admission to the party, access to the celebrities and a chance to win a one-of-a-kind custom motorcycle dedicated to the children of the Sudan region.

The custom-made, chromed-out bike was designed by West Coast Choppers’ Jesse James, host of The Discovery Channel’s “Monster Garage” program. An anonymous Los Angeles-area donor paid for the $145,000 custom chopper, and Angels of East Africa spent thousands more for custom paint and a display trailer.

After debuting last June at a gala in Santa Monica, Calif., the bike kicked off a yearlong national tour at last year’s Thunder in the Valley. It will be awarded at a drawing Saturday in Johnstown. For those not participating in Friday’s ride, tickets are $20 and will be sold during Thunder events.

Tickets haven’t been selling as fast as Childers hoped, but he’s not complaining. The tour delivered other benefits.

“It’s hard to do bad when somebody gave us the motorcycle,” Childers said. “We got to change a lot of lives. We got to meet a lot of people who were struggling with alcohol and drugs. I could talk to them about my struggle and the things I dealt with when I beat drugs.”

A self-described motorcycle outlaw, drug dealer and heroin addict, Childers turned his life around and became known as the Machine Gun Preacher for his battle against rebels known for attacks on unarmed villages.

Childers describes his troubled past, his redemption through Christ and his ongoing fight for the children of East Africa in his first book, “Another Man’s War: The True Story Of One Man's Battle To Save Children In The Sudan.”

Proceeds from the book, motorcycle giveaway and Friday’s ride would add a bush plane to rescue children and drop food into isolated villages and start a second orphanage in the war-torn region.