There is nothing better than a captive audience where the individuals are dedicated and push themselves to their personal best. Such was the audience of nearly 6,000 runners running an 18 mile training run for the New York City Marathon. I saw hundreds of runners entering Central Park with their race numbers and decided to follow. I made it in and positioned myself The Kindness Bicycle on a curve about a mile from the starting line where all who ran by would see. I faced the “Riding 4,000 Miles for Heroes” sign for easy visibility. I interacted with the crowd as they made their way past my location. Every 10 seconds or so, I called out: Be a hero to someone, children need heroes! I received a huge reception!! Smiles, waves, thumbs-up, congratulations and so many other welcoming statements were called back to me. I also never realized how many people watch CBS 2 News, as at least 100 people called back, “I saw you on TV yesterday!” I love when the word of this mission can reach a million people with one segment on television.
Bogart and I spent the remainder of the day talking with people interested in what we are trying to accomplish. We were very busy all day.

Two weeks ago Sheri Richardson of CBS 2 News met with me to film a piece for one of their news shows. I was contacted a couple of days ago by CBS 2 News producer, Eric Berlin, about coming in to the studio today, to be interviewed on-camera after the piece ran. Cindy Hsu, Emmy Award winning news anchor, met with me before going on camera. She is a consummate professional.
I watched the piece play as I sat with Cindy to be interviewed. Wow!…did they make me look and sound good. The piece was so well edited and precise. Cindy and I talked on camera for a couple of minutes. She has a wonderful way of making you think you are just sitting in your living room talking, not the million or so living rooms it is being broadcast in. She made me look as good as I could look and helping to inspire as many people as were watching. Hopefully, all one million of them.
I decided to make myself visible on The Kindness Bicycle today. It is apparent how many people watched this broadcast, by the huge number of well-wishers who went out of their way to acknowledge The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes.
Thank you to everyone at CBS 2 News for making this happen…and a huge thank you from Bogart to Rosie for helping him feel good about his big interview!  Here’s the link to the interview:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/video/7756053-ohio-man-travels-country-to-perform-one-million-acts-of-kindness/

Bogart has rejoined The Kindness Bus Tour!!
Today I headed back in The Kindness Bus to New York City with Bogart, from his nearly 4 month long vacation in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bogart is an integral part of The Kindness Bus Tour. People go out of their way to find out who Bogart is. We arrived back in the city to a warm welcome from many.
On October 20th, we will leave New York City and visit schools as we ride the perimeter of the United States. Bogart is sure to be “top dog” everywhere along our travels.
It sure is nice to have my wingman back, as I pilot The Kindness Bus around the country.

There are 76 Precincts in the 5 boroughs of New York City. The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes included all of them as well as the 212 Firehouses, 4 Veterans Medical Centers and various First Responder Agencies. My visit to the 47th Precinct in the Bronx, was the final visit to a Police Precinct. All summer long, I stopped to talk with any officer when I had a chance and they had the time. The conversations always seemed to end with thanks given to me. It was an horror to ride for these brave men and women.
The 76 precincts are spread out across all areas of the 5 boroughs. Protecting a city of this size and with all that takes place is no small task. These men and women have the safety of all the who are here in mind every minute of the day. Thank you to each and every one of them.

It just doesn’t get any better than this!
As I finish my final two weeks of The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes, I am getting the warmest of welcomes at both Firehouses and Police Precincts. Many Firefighters and Police Officers have heard word of this ride. I am getting the “red carpet” treatment a lot these days. I had incredible visits everywhere I rode. The Firefighters at Engine 62 Ladder 32 also known as the “Gun Hill Gang,” were finishing lunch as I wheeled The Kindness Bicycle in. They were thrilled to learn that I was riding to honor 343 Firefighters. One of their own, Firefighter Michael Lynch lost his life on 9-11, he was one of the “Gun Hill Gang.” We posed for today’s photo in front of his likeness on the door to the Firehouse. It was an honor to visit the Firehouses that have lost men and pay my respects to those 343 men who perished.
Thus summer has flown by and I am busy wrapping up this current ride and planning for the next. In a couple of weeks the two rides will overlap days, as I slowly transition to the Ring Our Country with Kindness ride.

With only a couple more of the 76 Police Precincts to visit in the 5 borough of New York City, it became apparent from early summer that these places are extremely busy, and it is very challenging work. It is a tough and sometimes thankless job working in some of these dangerous neighborhoods. We should all go out of our way to thank Police every chance we get.
My visit to the 52nd Precinct today was well worth the visit to all those present. I met with the front desk Sergeant and talked with him, but loud enough for all to hear. You could have heard a pin drop halfway through my presentation, as several Officers stopped what they were doing to listen.
It has been an honor for me this summer to be treated so well by the men and women in blue. I owe a debt of gratitude to the NYPD.

I stopped at the 4th VA Medical Center in the 5 boroughs to visit and leave some of my information with the Community Affairs Department. I found a very interested Public Affairs Specialist, James E. Connell, III. He is a Marine at heart and was thrilled to hear of The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes. In our meeting, I got more than I ever expected, as he is going to send out 2,400 emails to the staff regarding this ride. I am honored to say the least.
These VA facilities are protected by Veterans Affairs Police. It is comforting to know that the security of those within are safe. Thank you to all who made my visit possible.