By Rick Madewell
Assistant Editor

Charlie DePari is not one of those stereotypical, hardcore motorcycle riders. That just wouldn’t cross one’s mind while dealing with the tall, mild-mannered man with a slight – if not average – build. Not much leather to speak of. No “ride to live, live to ride” philosophies. And, well, none of those tattoos.

But all that could change by the end of the Hoka Hey Challenge, a cross-country motorcycle race for only Harley-Davidson owners. The payoff? A cool half-million dollars.

Charlie, however, is not really in it for the money, even giving up $1,000 for an entry into the challenge. He knows that going up against nearly 800 other riders in the race makes his chances pretty slim, especially considering the 54-year-old Kissimmee resident – although around some form of motorbike practically all of his life – has never done anything like this before, not even close.

His main goal for the race is to raise as much money as he can for Give Kids the World, a charity in Kissimmee that grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. It also provides accommodations at its resort, meals for a weeklong vacation and donated admission tickets to local attractions, including Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort.

“I think it’s a fantastic cause because it helps so many children and families from all over the world and gives them happy times,” Charlie, who owns Ace Electrical and Plumbing Service in Kissimmee, said.

While most fathers awoke on Father’s Day recently to spend the entire day with their children, Charlie was in Key West saying some emotional goodbyes to his children and wife, Donna, before heading off on a massive, 7,000-mile biking expedition to Homer, Alaska, on his white and blue Ultra Classic Limited. Oddly enough, the assigned route to Homer took Charlie right through the heart of Kissimmee and over Pleasant Hill Road early in his trek.

Every night over the course of the two weeks it will take to get there, Charlie, as well as all of the other bikers, must sleep outside next to their bikes. It’s all part of the endurance part of the race. There’s no cheating allowed, of course, to win the run to Alaska, and a lie-detector test will be administered to the eventual winner before the half-million dollars is handed over. A friend is allowed to drive the course, which is taken only on back roads, and meet his or her biker buddy at checkpoints to make sure the biker is OK. Meeting Charlie at those checkpoints in a support vehicle is longtime friend Steve Darby, of Massachusetts.

“I’m really proud of him and I think it will be a major accomplishment to finish,” daughter Danielle DePari, 27, said, indicating her father a few days into the competition remained in good spirits. “When he left, it was emotional, but it was exciting at the same time.”

Danielle’s brother, Chuck DePari, 26, and sister, Beverly DePari, 21, have been very supportive of their father’s big journey, with Danielle likening it to “one of those mid-life things.”

The folks in Homer are already planning a big reception and party for all the riders who make it through at the perfect time – July 4.

Charlie informed his wife and children he may come back home looking and acting a lot more like a biker than when he left. And that tattoo?

“I would be shocked,” Danielle said. “But he said he might come back just like a lot of the rest of them.”

Charlie should reunite with his family around mid-July.

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For those who would like to contribute to Charlie’s cause for the ride, send to Charlie DePari, 1692 Doloris Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34746. According to Danielle, he will deliver all donations personally to Give Kids the World.