Throughout his campaign for the presidency, Democratic nominee John Kerry could be seen wearing red, white, blue, and…yellow? If you looked carefully, a bright yellow rubber wristband clashed with the traditional patriotic colors of Kerry’s suit and tie. George W. Bush has a similar wristband, as do Ashley Olsen, numerous athletes, celebrities and many West Chester University students. No, the wristbands are not a new fashion accessory; they are LIVESTRONG wristbands sold by the Lance Armstrong Foundation to help people with cancer “Live Strong.” “Live Strong” is the motto of Lance Armstrong. A cancer survivor himself, Armstrong was diagnosed at the age of 25 (when he was already a world famous cyclist) with testicular cancer.Since the cancer was not detected
early, it had spread to his abdomen, lungs, and brain. Armstrong did not see himself as a cancer victim, though, but rather as a cancer survivor. He learned about the disease, got “aggressive” treatment, defeated the disease in 1996 and went on to win the Tour de France in 1999 and every year since. When he reflected back on his experience with cancer, Armstrong stated on his offical Web site, “Before cancer I just lived. Now I live strong.”
He is also now working to help other cancer patients and survivors though the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF). LAF educates people about cancer and provides medical resources to cancer patients, advocates for cancer patients and survivors, develops and supports social and health programs related to cancer, and, above all, helps cancer patients be optimistic and “Live Strong.”
The Wear Yellow LIVESTRONG campaign is only a more recent endeavor of LAF and Nike. The idea was to sell yellow wristbands for one dollar, with all the proceeds going to support LAF. The campaign officially started in May 2004 and the original goal was to raise $5 million dollars. To date, almost $11 million dollars has been raised.
Though wearing the wristband is now perceived by some to be a trend, a survey administered by LAF found that most people are not wearing the wristbands for fashion reasons. Conversations with West Chester University students who wear the wristband support the survey findings: Lauren Ries wears her wristband for her aunt, who has breast cancer. “We all wear it for her,” she said.
Kelly Armstrong also wears hers for the Cause, for family members who have already had cancer and for her dad who is currently fighting cancer. She gave her first wristband to her dad after he was diagnosed, and was just given a new one a few weeks ago. She summed up her experience with the wristband as a “passing along-giving type experience.”
Jenna Shireman’s wristband was also given to her by a friend from home who, similarly to Armstrong, is 26 and a survivorof testicular cancer. “He was passing them out to his friends. I know it meant a lot to him that his friends were supporting him.”
The bright yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands are seen on people of all ages and backgrounds, in all settings. Ten million people are currently fighting cancer, and, while that is a discouraging number, almost 11 million bracelets have been sold all over the United States, to people from all political and religious backgrounds, and the demand for the wristbands increases every day.
At a time when America seems so divided, its good to know that there are still some issues, some causes, that everyone, regardless of whether they voted for Bush or Kerry, supports. LIVESTRONG wristbands can be purchased for $1 in quantities of 10, 100, or 1,200 at the Web site http://www.laf-store.org/.