The Heroes Creed
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I have risen before dawn • I have stood in line behind several of my closest friends for breakfast, lunch, dinner water and to use the bathroom • I have asked, pleaded, bartered, begged and harassed my family friends and strangers for donations • I have spent my mornings, afternoons and my weekends training • I have laughed out loud • I have spent hundreds of dollars on cycling equipment, clothing, energy bars, sunscreen, sunglasses, bandanas and gatoraide • I have learned hand signals, clipping and unclipping, riding uphill and the importance of stopping at every stop sign • I have yelled “Hole!”, “Glass!”, “Car Up!”, “Car Back!”, “Car Left!”, “Car Right!” “Stopping!”, “Slowing”, “Clear!” and “On Your Left!” approximately one million times. I have raised thousands of dollars • I have spent a week sleeping in a tent, eating in a tent, and showering in a truck • I have made over one thousand new and interesting friends • I have changed my life as I know it • I have given up an entire week of my year for someone else • I have cried • I have done things with my body I did not think I could do • I have ridden my bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for AIDS • I am a California AIDS/LifeCycle Participant • I Am A Hero. © Copyright 2005• Thomas Gaebel • Donor T-shirt incentive Project