Tomorrow marks the beginning of the 3rd annual One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. Groups from around the world will take part, once again, in this important week. One of my favorite groups this year, the Girl Scouts, are playing a big part in this years event. One of the the Girl Scout groups that I talked with this past year was #3204 on the upper west side of Manhattan. The girls are living their lives to every word of their GIRL SCOUT PROMISE by realizing the importance of helping others. The girls saw a need, and are putting together care packages for the Dominican Woman’s Development Center. They are also creating felt hearts, handmade cards and pencils which carry the message, “Get an Attitude for Gratitude.” they will pass these to each person at their school. Thank you girls, for all you do to help others in need.  What a great way to teach young girls to become lifelong caring individuals.

I headed back north to Santa Monica and several surrounding communities, for the next week before I head east to Nevada. Yes, The Kindness Bicycle for Heroes will even be in Las Vegas and surrounding suburbs for about a week’s time. I will even travel to many Spring Training cities in Arizona and am sure that there will be widespread support for my travels in those areas.
In this upcoming week, I will ride two extended days in Santa Monica, one day for the eight Police Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty and the other day for the seven Firefighters who have lost their lives in this city. I will also visit the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center.
Please email all of your friends and family members about One Million Acts Of Kindness Week beginning Monday.

3AM comes early when you turn in at midnight. In order to be on The Bill Bennett, Morning in America radio show at 6AM, I set my alarm just before 3. Being able to talk about my travels to a national audience is such a huge help to this mission. Thank you Seth. Yesterday was a full day with a ride in 2 separate communities and a 2 hour interview scheduled in between. The town of Newport Beach was crowded and I didn’t dare leave any possibity of losing out on some great conversation with interested individuals.
Don, the Photo Editor from The Daily Pilot told me to head down to the Newport Pier because the surfing community would love The Kindness Bus. Boy was he right. There was a complete outpouring of support for The Kindness Bus everywhere I traveled in the OC.
Today was all about getting miles in as I will work on a last minute push for One Million Acts Of Kindness Week, this will be the case for the next 3 days.

Today I rode to honor some very important Heroes. The first two were officers from the Costa Mesa Police. I remember this story as it made national headlines 25 years ago. Two police helicopters from neighboring communities crashed in mid-air, sending one of the helicopters to the ground after shearing off it’s blades. Officers Dave Ketchum and John Libolt died in that crash. I rode for nearly five hours with their names on The Kindness Bicycle. The response was amazing as many motorists stopped at lights and pedestrians expressed their gratitude for the tribute to my ride and memories of that day. The memories of the sacrifice these two officers made in the line of duty is still alive after nearly a quarter century.
In Newport Beach, I rode to honor Officer Bob Henry during the afternoon hours today. This story made national headlines as well as this 1995 shooting of officer Henry was followed by the shooters suicide. What a senseless waste. Two other officers from Newport Beach have died in the line of duty in recent years, Officer Marshall and Sergeant Van Horn.
A wonderful article was written about my rides today in The Daily Pilot by Lauren Williams, with some great images captured by Photo Editor Don Leach.

****With all of this said and with all of the incredible responses I received during my double ride today, I would be remiss in not reporting the following;
While on my morning ride, I pedaled past a group of three men who appeared to be exchanging money for a bag of something. They did not really see me or The Kindness Bicycle. On my way past that same corner, about an hour later, the man who was taking the money was standing with a different individual. I always ride cautiously and without making eye contact in situations  such as these. This time The Kindness Bicycle was spotted. They had time to read the sign that reads, Riding for Police and Firefighters killed in the line of duty, I could hear them reading the sign aloud. Their response? They laughed hysterically.
The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes is not only to honor Heroes, but it is to hopefully teach all of us, especially children, who the real Heroes are in our society.
Please help to teach all children who the real Heroes are, before individuals like these somehow convince, or try to convince, our children to look to them for (mis)guidance.

I headed north to Leucadia, California in The Kindness Bus to meet with Hero Michael Fox’s dad, Tweed. Ever since reading his quote that “something good will come of this,” I’ve wanted to hear what thoughts he has. What great ideas he has planned to help Marines in need. I will write about what he has planned, in the near future. He is focusing on long term help on an individual basis. A website and Facebook has been put in place and I will write about that as well.
Today’s ride was once again, in perfect conditions. Being through this town a little over a week ago, I talked with some of the same friendly people.
Ryan and Megan, a young couple I talked with were very interested and are spreading word to family back in Philadelphia that The Kindness Bus will be through their town in late spring.
That’s what I love, a message of Kindness and Heroes from coast to coast

Bogart and I started this very productive day at Nate’s Point Dog Park at Balboa Park in San Diego. Getting some much needed off-leash time for Bogart. One of the many interested individuals while at, and bicycling to and from the park was Sarah from UC San Diego. Sarah was more than happy to volunteer posting The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes flyers throughout various departments in her school. What a great way to get the word out about The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes, even after we have left the region.
I talked with Amanda Rogers, who I met last week. Amanda is part of the Health and Wellness program, called the Balboa Warrior Athlete Program, at the Bob Wilson Naval Hospital, which helps to place Wounded Warriors in a sport or activity program, thereby helping to get healthy exercise for the body and the mind.
Wounded Warrior Hero, Michael Fox and I spent an hour together before I headed north to Oceanside. He is making tremendous progress in his injuries sustained in Afghanistan this past November. All of these heroes, including Michael, could use financial and moral support for years to come. Any fundraiser or benefit you can have in their honor is always a help. Visiting and getting involved in helping with the many programs that improve the lives of these Heroes is a necessity.

“We were just talking about what you just said to us,” Firefighters Brian and Eugene said to me when I told them that The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes is about creating an awareness about who the real positive influences should be in all of our lives. I visited Firehouse #20 this afternoon and found a Firehouse full of positive influences. Eugene, who is the Firefighter on the right, in today’s photo, is a Wounded Warrior. He has recovered from his wounds from an RPG in Iraq. He now is a Hero working as a Firefighter. Captain Cory and some of the other men from this house came out to meet me just before leaving, to give praise for The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes.
I start to head back north towards Los Angeles and surrounding areas tomorrow, before heading slowly to the east next week. It will be great to see some familiar faces from my travels south through this same area. Bogart is even going to get a break as he will be staying in spa-like surroundings while in Santa Monica for a week. Lucky dog!
A big One Million Acts Of Kindness thanks to Jeff and Phil of Phil’s B•B•Q for making all the arrangements for my stay in San Diego and for the generosity in helping The Kindness Bus roll safely down the road. Phil’s B•B•Q is the best BBQ west of the Mississippi…and east of the Mississippi as well. If you aren’t in San Diego order their award winning sauce from their website at www.philsbbq.net
One week from today marks the beginning of One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. Please take the time to sign-up for this important week on the homepage of this website.