Houston Bikers Rev It Up for Prisoners’ Kids on 9/20

Hundreds of Houston Bikers Hit the Asphalt with Thousands of Riders Across the U.S. to Benefit Nation's Most At-Risk Children; 10-State UNITY RIDE for America's 1.5 Million Children of Inmates

WHAT: 

Hundreds of Houston bikers bearing Christmas gifts for local children of prisoners will gather for a 70-mile motorcycle ride and prayer event at the 3rd annual UNITY RIDE sponsored by national biker magazine Wheels of Grace.  Houston's UNITY RIDE is one of 12 held simultaneously across the nation at which bikers will gather to rally support for the 1.5 million children in America who have a father or mother behind bars.  These children are among the most "at-risk" kids in the United States (Focus on Children with Incarcerated Parents, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2007).

This year's event will benefit Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree, the nation’s only year-round effort that reaches out exclusively to children of prisoners. 

WHEN: 

Sept. 20, 8:00 a.m. PDT

• 8:00 a.m. – Registration
• 10:00 a.m. – Local praise and worship event
• 11:00 a.m. – Nationwide prayer linking thousands of bikers in 12 cities across the United States
• Noon – UNITY RIDE 
• 1:30 p.m. – Food and live music by Eddie B and Tim “Roadhawg” Banks, Rick Benson, Eddie B, Zee Collins, D’Upper Room Praise Team, Jesus Lovin’ Biker Band and Eric Story

Beginning and ending at Church of the Harvest, 7505 Wilson Dr., Manvel, TX 77578

WHO: 

Houston/Gulf Coast-based Ambassadors For Christ, Bikers for Christ, Christian Riders Of Our Sovereign Savior, Hard Core Christian Riders, JLBB, Revelators (Shreveport, La.), Ride In The Light, Rolling Radiant Thunder (Keithville, La.), Soldiers For Jesus and more…

The UNITY RIDE is open to all riders and others who wish to attend.  The entry fee is $10 and a children’s toy. 

In addition to Houston, UNITY RIDES will be held in Atlanta, Carson City, Nev., Cleveland, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Central Florida, Sacramento, Calif., Seattle, Southern California and Phoenix.  Bikers who want to participate in the UNITY RIDE should contact Joan Wynn at (713) 319-5628. 

Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program is the only nationwide, year-round effort that reaches out exclusively to children whose fathers or mothers are behind bars.  It begins with a gift at Christmas but extends to a year-round effort.  During the past 26 years, more than 7.5 million children of prisoners have received some 16 million Christmas gifts, more than 40,000 children have participated in summer camping and some 5,000 prisoners’ children have been mentored through Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree. 

MEDIA NOTE: UNITY RIDES are open to media.  Media check-in will be located at the registration desk at Church of the Harvest.  On-site media contact: Seth Saldivar, (713) 591-5298. 

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