HERO squad History

In surveys conducted during AIDS/Lifecycle 6 recruitment, newly registered riders were asked why they were doing the ride, and given a multiple choice list of viable reasons ranging from "The Physical Challenge" to "Personal Reasons". In 2006, a record number of new participants reported their reason for doing the ride was something other than "To support the fight against HIV/AIDS." The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian center decided to promote an outreach during the ride to help remind the ALC community what the ride is all about- to support the community suffering from HIV and AIDS related illnesses, HIV Awareness, and Prevention.

Brad Estrin, program coordinator for the HIV Stops with Me program of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's health education and prevention department was assigned the task of designing and implementing the ALC outreach.
Brad is not the kind of event planner that likes to stick to the status quo, he's creative and ambitious, so a simple condom and pamphlet handout for this project wasn't going to work for him. Brad thinks big, and he wanted this outreach to be more than successful, he wanted it to go down in history as an event unto itself.
He came up with the framework of an idea that invites riders of the AIDS/Lifecycle to participate on a volunteer basis, to spread the word about HIV Awareness and prevention, to become heroes in their own community through leadership and example.

He decided to call this outreach "The Hero Project".

Tommy Gaebel, a graphic designer in Los Angeles has been active in the AIDS/Lifecycle and the former California AIDS rides since 1998, and most recently as a training ride leader. When Bradley Estrin approached Tommy during a training ride in the spring of 2007, and told him about his idea for the HERO project, Tommy lit up like a kid on Christmas day. "I would Love to help you design the Jerseys for your Project" said Tommy, "But I also have something else I think you could use, something I've been trying to promote, but that hasn't been getting much traction." Tommy was talking about a little essay he wrote, a statement really. Something he called "The Heroes Creed".

After a brainstorm session over coffee at a local Hollywood diner, the HERO project took shape. The Heroes creed was modified to reflect the mission of HIV Awareness and prevention, relabeled H.E.R.O for the acronym HIV Endeavor for Reaching Out. Bandanas screenprinted with the creed on one side were ordered to be given to ALC participants, and an army of heroes would be recruited to carry the message of the H.E.R.O. creed to everyone on the AIDS/Lifecycle 6 event. HERO jerseys and jackets were designed and ordered for the newly formed "squad" of heroes, with the creed printed boldly across the back. The HERO project was off and running.

The Power of the Creed
The H.E.R.O. creed was a simple statement, written by a rider, that celebrates the sacrifices taken by anyone who registers and rides in the AIDS/Lifecycle event.
Begining with the words "I have Risen Before dawn . . ." and ending with " I am A HERO", the creed promotes the idea that any person commited to the cause of caring for their fellow man, is by definition a HERO. This simple message resonated quickly throughout the ALC 6 community with powerful, meaningful results. The HERO Creed bandana was not simply a peice of cloth, a token that riders could hold in their hand, or wear on their head. It was destined to become a symbol they would carry in their hearts, a statement that would define each and every one of them for their involment in the AIDS/Lifecycle. The impact the creed made on the ALC 6 community was palpable from the moment it was first introduced, and the result was overwhelming.

Snags become blessings
The original intention was to have the bandana's stuffed into the swag bags for people at the ALC ride orientation (also known as Day 0), but the bandana's could not be produced fast enough to make the deadline.
There was also a problem with cost, for the budget for the bandanas was not enough to allow one for every person participating in the ride.
Neither Bradley or Tommy realized that these two issues would turn out to be blessings in disguise.

Because the Bandanas were not stuffed into the swag bags, they had to be given out by hand, so it was decided the HERO squad was best suited for the job. The opportunity for human interaction between riders as individuals played a huge role in giving the H.E.R.O. project and it's message a personal touch. The idea of HIV awareness and prevention conversation, hero to hero, brought the message home in a way that a token in a swag bag could not possibly create. Not meeting that deadline was by surprise, a very good thing.

Though the bandanas were handed in small amounts out on day 1, there wasn't an opportunity to hand them out on a large scale until day 3, after the interest in the H.E.R.O. project had already created a hefty buzz within the ALC community. Everyone on the ride had seen the H.E.R.O squad jerseys, seen a few bandanas and wondered "What is this project was all about?"


When the bandanas were revealed as a gift for all riders, they could not be handed out fast enough. HEROES were mobbed by people trying to get their hands on this "Creed bandana", they went quickly and completely in a few short minutes. Many riders did not get one, those that did clung to their bandanas like precious gifts. Throughout the remainder of the ride, the bandanas were displayed proudly like badges of courage. Everywhere you turned you'd see them, around people's necks, on their heads, flapping in the wind on camelbacks, some draped over tent flaps like signs of intent, others flown like flags. All over tent city the result was obvious, the outreach was a total and complete success, and of course; "We need to make more bandanas".

Survey Says . . .
Focus groups organized after the bandana giveaway showed the desired impact was achieved, and the message was loud and clear. When asked if riders would like to participate in the HERO project in future, the response was overwhelmingly 100% "Yes", and the ALC H.E.R.O. movement was established.

The outreach continues for ALC 7 with the addition of two more groups; the ANGEL Squad, and the SAFETY Squad, each with their own misson, and to promote and preserve the essence of the ALC culture.

The H.E.R.O squad will continue to promote HIV awareness and prevention on future ALC rides, and the H.E.R.O. creed will remain as a permanent part of the H.E.R.O. squad message, as well as a integral statement defining the intentions in the heart of the ALC community.