Livestrong Cancer Foundation Dropped Lance Armstrong from The Title

“For most of its life, the organization has been known as the Livestrong Foundation, but making that change official is necessary and appropriate during a time of change for the organization,” McLane told Reuters.

Armstrong founded the charity in 1997, after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and before he first won the Tour de France. Since then, it has raised some $500 million and has evolved from a focus on testicular cancer research to addressing the needs of survivors of all cancers.

Armstrong, 41, announced on October 17 that he was stepping down as chairman but remaining on the board of the organization, which helps people and families affected by cancer. That followed an October 10 report by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that said that the now-retired rider had been involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.”

On October 22, Armstrong’s seven Tour de France victories were nullified and he was banned from cycling for life after the International Cycling Union (UCI) ratified the USADA’s sanctions against him. Then on Monday, Livestrong chairman Jeff Garvey said that Armstrong had voluntarily resigned from the foundation “to spare the organization any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding his cycling career.” He made the decision November 4, McLane said.

“All of us – especially Lance – wanted Livestrong to have a presence that was bigger than its founder,” board member Mark McKinnon told Reuters Wednesday in an email. “We knew that in order to make the most profound and lasting impact for cancer survivors, the cause and the organization had to have its own persona. That’s exactly what Livestrong has become and Lance helped shape that effort.”

Armstrong declined through a manager to comment. He said at the foundation’s gala last month that the organization’s mission is bigger than him. “We will not be deterred; we will move forward,” Armstrong said that night.

‘HOUSE THAT HE BUILT’

The group’s website has long been Livestrong.org, and a giant yellow “Livestrong” sign just inside the front door of the East Austin office greets visitors, but the name “Lance Armstrong Foundation” was still used regularly. For example, the yellow invitation to the foundation’s $1,000-a-head gala last month said: “On October 19, 2012, Lance Armstrong Foundation will celebrate 15 years of Livestrong.”

At the foundation’s office, seven yellow Armstrong Tour jerseys have been removed from the walls.

“Lance doesn’t want to be a distraction from the foundation’s cause – serving cancer patients and survivors,” said McKinnon, a board member and an Austin media producer and communications strategist. “That’s why he resigned from the foundation’s board. In the spirit of that noble decision, the foundation has to make appropriate changes as well.”

The retired cyclist has always denied he took banned substances during his career but decided not to challenge the USADA charges against him. Sponsors including  giant Nike Inc, sunglasses maker Oakley and brewer Anheuser-Busch have dropped him or have said they won’t renew his contract.

The Austin father of five, who had been spending time in Hawaii, tweeted on November 10 that he was “Back in Austin and just layin’ around …” He linked to a photo of himself lying on a couch, with his seven framed yellow Tour jerseys on the wall.

“At the moment, he feels it’s better for the organization that he step away a bit,” McKinnon said.

Board member Dr. David Johnson, an oncologist as well as a cancer , said he supports Armstrong’s decision to step down “even though I think he’s the heart and soul of the organization.” Johnson said that Armstrong was always engaged at board meetings, speaking up if he doesn’t agree with something and chiming in with passion.

“I think there was some discussion that took place between him and a number of members of the foundation agonizing over what to do,” said Johnson, professor and chairman of the department of internal medicine at UT Southwestern School of Medicine in Dallas.

Johnson, who has known Armstrong for years, said that the idea of a name change is “painful.”

“I don’t know that there was a feeling until now that it was even a necessary thing to do,” he said.

Livestrong started as the name of an educational program at the foundation and in 2004 became the word on Nike wristbands, 55 million of which were sold by the following year.

“As the yellow bands sort of exploded, Livestrong just kept growing and growing,” foundation CEO Doug Ulman told Reuters in August. Being known as Livestrong “wasn’t really a conscious decision, it was just sort of like, We’re going to lead with our brand.'”

Armstrong, who is the largest donor to Livestrong, having contributed $7 million, is still welcome at the foundation, officials said.

“It’s a house that he built,” McLane said.

(Reporting by Corrie MacLaggan; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

South Park is Making Joke to Armstrong Yellow Wristbands

What will you do if you are now already falling and becoming the mock of discussion in public?  How do you defend yourself to clear your name and reputation?

Well, it is even worst if a cartoon movie is portraying your image into a joke story for the episode.  In a teaser clip released on Monday by Comedy Central, an episode titled “A Scause for Applause” shows residents of the fictional American town standing in line to get their yellow wristbands removed.

While the teaser for the October 31 episode does not refer to Armstrong by name, Comedy Central said in a statement that it deals with “the recent news of drug use by a beloved icon” and “the world is left feeling lost and betrayed”.

Armstrong, who was stripped of his cycling titles and banned for life earlier this month for doping, used yellow wristbands to promote his charity Livestrong.

In the “South Park” episode, the news has left the town enraged and upset as chubby foul-mouthed Eric Cartman, one of the show’s four lead children, declares “I can’t believe we all got duped”. Hapless schoolboy Clyde Donovan yells “lying jerk” and school counselor Mr Mackey sobs as his bracelet is removed, saying, “I don’t know what to believe in anymore”.

Armstrong, 41, who became a hero after battling cancer to dominate the world of professional cycling, has always denied allegations of taking performance enhancing drugs.

He was banned from the sport for life after 11 of his former team mates testified against him and the United States Anti-Doping Agency published a report which alleged he had been involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen”.

“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are known for responding quickly to current affairs and taboo subjects for their raunchy comedy show, which has become a cult hit.

They previously landed in hot water after showing late Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin with a stingray barb in his chest less than two months after his sudden death from a stingray attack, and drawing the Muslim prophet Mohammed dressed in a bear costume in a 2006 episode.

What to do with LIVESTRONG Wristbands Now?

What is the value of the message on this silicone wristband?

Some people suggested to erase the “v” on the LIVE to become LIE.  Others added additional words ” TO WIN” to become “LIE STRONG TO WIN“.

The yellow rubberized wristband on my left arm caught the attention of the women scanning all my Ben & Jerry’s frozen yogurt containers in the supermarket checkout stand Saturday morning.

“Hey, live strong! oh sorry, lie strong” she blurted out, holding up her own left arm to display her yellow bracelet.

A few seconds after I swiped my ATM card, I figured out what provoked this band-bonding moment. She was implying we were in public support of the “LIVESTRONG” slogan to fight cancer on behalf of cycling marvel Lance Armstrong.

I didn’t have the heart to correct her.

“CHEAT TO WIN,” it said on my piece of silicone.

I slip this one on once and a while for a reminder – don’t believe everything you read, don’t get sucked into everything that seems to be the perfect solution and don’t be surprised when athletes fail to live up to the ridiculous standards we often expect of them.

I shouldn’t be caught off-guard with others who still don’t get the message.

Back in 2006, after Floyd Landis was stripped of his Tour de France victory, the “CHEAT TO WIN” parody bracelets were produced by The Onion, the satiric and savvy “Nation’s Finest News Source” that seized upon the opportunity to make fun of the Armstrong phenomenon that had become a Nike-induced fashion accessory.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Nike were behind cranking out these $1scraps of rubber into a multi-million dollar fundraiser in the name of cancer-curing research.

Presidential candidates sported them, as well as top-flight actors and actresses, Olympic athletes and anyone else who wanted to be part of Team Armstrong. Wikipedia even has a page for it.
It led to spin-offs of different colors, raising awareness upon awareness of other diseases that needed our funding.

Yellow fever must have been one of the causes we failed to fully acknowledge.

While we were kept aware Armstrong had to keep fighting off doping allegations that came with every one of his seven Tour de France titles, his tests kept turning up negative.

This past week, something snapped back.

The latest “overwhelming” evidence produced by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency forced Armstrong to decide it was time to step down as chairman of this charity he founded 15 years ago. Nike was one of several who dropped him as a corporate sponsor quicker than a chain coming off a sprocket.

What a nice strong-arm tactic by the uber-company that had created this global marketing icon. Phil Knight might as as well have been leading Armstrong away to shame jail with wrists bound by “LIVESTRONG” bracelets.

So, Phil, what do you propose we do with all these Armstrong bands of support now?
At the Livestrong online store, the thing that comes in three sizes continues to sell – 10 for 10 bucks, 100 for $100. Because the hundreds of millions of dollars already raised isn’t enough.
At the Onion store, the “CHEAT TO WIN” bands aren’t around any longer. Try eBay.com.
Which one speaks louder now?

The one athlete who might have changed a huge segment of the sporting population into believing he could power through against the C-word makes any us now mull over our own C-words: Conflicted, confused and probably even more cynical.

Wendy Adams of Manchester, Pa., told CNN this week she and her sisters wore the bracelets when their dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004.

He died a year later. The family respected his wishes by having him cremated wearing the bracelet. 

But Adams said she can’t wear hers anymore. She now refers to the seven-time Tour winning* (to be determined) Armstrong as “a liar, a manipulator.”

Some have taken to adjusting their bracelets to darkening out the “V” so it reads “LIE STRONG.” A few years ago, some guy started cranking out black “LIVE WRONG” bands. Not to mock those who had cancer, but have a laugh at the expense of those who dropped out of Corporate America to get on their bikes and live in the mountains.

With mountains of evidence now apparently sending Armstrong to retreat from Corporate America, there’s a larger mountain of yellow wristbands that must be dealt with.
Use them to hold the trash-can liner in place?

Stretch them around the stack of Armstrong biographies on your book shelf as you donate them to the local library, to be shelved under “sports,” “history” or “supernatural occurrences”?

Scrap that. The stupid thing is Nike actually has a program on its website that could help here.
It has been soliciting used or broken “LIVESTRONG” bracelets for years as part of its “Reuse-a-Shoe” program. They’ll crush ’em up and regenerate them into material used to resurface a playground.
The best answer is to recycle, at a time when our most notorious cyclist soon will be trying to reinvent himself and restore his image in the court of public opinion.

Of course, those who want to keep the bands as a reminder that they or someone they love actually beat cancer, more power to you.

Let the grieving process continue as you read more about Armstrong’s legacy.
Those of us who keep our “CHEAT TO WIN” band nearby as a reminder of things we can’t fix, maybe more compassion for us.

Our grieving process is a daily issue.

That, and the skin that thickens around the band just makes it tougher and tougher to slip off each time.

Article was sourced from Daily News

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Using Wristbands as A Symbol of Hope

Send The Message to Stay Strong

Cancer wristbands made their first appearance in 2004 when Lance Armstrong debuted the now infamous yellow LIVESTRONG cancer wristbands. These wristbands served—and still serve—as a symbol of hope and shed light on the fight against testicular cancer.

The yellow LIVESTRONG cancer wristband may be a simple idea, but it is a powerful one—so powerful that it has spread to bring attention to other forms of cancer, including:

·         Bladder cancer, childhood cancer and liver cancer are also represented with yellow cancer wristbands

·         Metastatic breast cancer and skin cancer, represented with black cancer wristbands

·         bowel cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and rectal cancer, represented with blue cancer wristbands

·         Liver cancer, represented with light blue cancer wristbands

·         Kidney cancer, represented with orange cancer wristbands

·         Breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, represented with pink cancer wristbands

·         Neck cancer, represented with red cancer wristbands

·         Bone cancer and head and neck cancer, represented with white cancer wristbands

·         Cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, gynecological cancer and uterine cancer, represented with teal cancer wristbands

·         Brain cancer, represented with grey cancer wristbands

·         General cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer represented with purple cancer wristbands

Purple cancer wristbands can also represent cancer survivors. Additionally, it is the selected color for Relay for Life—the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society.

Since cancer wristbands are intended for long-term wear, they are extremely durable and comfortable. The come in a few different styles:

·         Embossed silicone

·         Debossed silicone

·         Screen printed silicone

To really inspire, motivate and spread the word about cancer, you can include a message on cancer wristbands, by embosssing, debossing or screen printing onto cancer wristbands:

·        “Fear Nothing”

·         “Fight Like a Girl”

·         “Courage”

·         “Feel the Power”

·         “Live Free, Smoke Free”

·         “I survived”

·         “Cancer sucks”

There are a variety of ways to effectively put cancer wristbands to use. One way is to host a fundraising event. Maybe there is a specific type of cancer for which you’d like to raise funds. Give a cancer wristband to every guest who makes a donation of $10 or more. Another idea is to organize a walk/run to raise money. Distribute cancer wristbands to every participant who raises a minimum of $20. You could have an online donation drive, too. Anyone who makes a donation online of $25 or more receives a cancer wristband.

Sadly, most of us know someone fighting cancer. Cancer wristbands can raise awareness of one particular person who is fighting for his or her life. Cancer treatment is outrageously expensive. An effective way for family and friends to raise money to help cover the medical expenses of a cancer patient is to host an auction within the community—raising awareness, hope AND funds. Cancer wristbands can be embossed, debossed or screen printed with the name of the person fighting cancer, along with the word, “Hope”. These can be given as a thank you gift: Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for helping me in this terrifying fight against cancer. Thank you for helping me beat cancer and kick it to the curb!

Wearing cancer wristbands offers both support and strength to the person who is fighting cancer. It makes all the difference in the world to know that people care. There is strength in numbers. The support of a community can empower and individual. It’s a powerful contributor toward healing.

When someone we love is fighting cancer, most of us feel helpless. Wearing a cancer wristband with the name of our loved one on it can make us feel like we are making a difference—as small as it may be. When it comes to cancer, everyone wishes they could do more. Wearing a cancer wristband brings awareness to all who see it. It may catch the eye of a stranger who decides to ask about it to appease his or her curiosity. When you explain about your family member who has cancer, they may feel moved enough to make a donation or wear his or her own cancer wristband. Maybe they know someone who is fighting for their life, too. Maybe the two of you can find a support system with one another.

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to raise awareness of cancer and a highly effective fundraising tool, cancer wristbands might just be the answer. Cancer wristbands are a fashion accessory that symbolizes hope for a cure.

Wristbands for Cancer Awareness

It all started with the infamous yellow LIVESTRONG cancer wristband, which Lance Armstrong set up to shed light on the fight against cancer. Since these cancer wristbands first made an appearance in 2004, they’ve become a common accessory symbolizing hope for a cure against a scary disease that takes on so many different forms in so many different people.

Wearing cancer wristbands is trendy and there are a number of styles from which to choose, including embossed silicone, debossed silicone, and screen printed silicone. Extremely durable and comfortable to wear for an extended amount of time, cancer wristbands are used to raise awareness of many forms of cancer. There are a variety of colors that represent specific types of cancers, including the following:

·         Black cancer wristbands represent metastatic breast cancer and skin cancer

·         Blue cancer wristbands represent bowel cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and rectal cancer

·         Light blue cancer wristbands represent liver cancer

·         Orange cancer wristbands represent kidney cancer

·         Pink cancer wristbands represent breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, testicular cancer

·         Purple cancer wristbands represent general cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer

·         Red cancer wristbands represent neck cancer

·         White cancer wristbands represent bone cancer and head and neck cancer

·         Yellow cancer wristbands represent bladder cancer, childhood cancer, liver cancer and testicular cancer

·         Teal cancer wristbands represent cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, gynecological cancer and uterine cancer

·         Grey cancer wristbands represent brain cancer

Purple cancer wristbands can also represent cancer survivors and is the selected color for Relay for Life, which is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society.

Breast Cancer Silicone Wristbands

In addition to the representative colors, there are a variety of messages that can be embossed, debossed or screen printed onto cancer wristbands—some inspirational, some motivating, and some just telling it like it is. Here are a handful of popular examples:

·         “Fear Nothing”

·         “Fight Like a Girl”

·         “Courage”

·         “Feel the Power”

·         “Live Free, Smoke Free”

·         “I survived”

·         “Cancer sucks”

You can effectively put cancer wristbands to use in a variety of ways. If you want to raise money for a specific type of cancer, you can host a fundraising event. Every guest who makes a donation receives a cancer wristband. Maybe there’s an organized walk/run to raise money for a specific type of cancer. Every participant who raises a minimum of $20 receives a cancer wristband to wear. You could have an online donation drive, too. Anyone who makes a donation online of $25 or more receives a cancer wristband.

Cancer wristbands can also help raise awareness of one particular person who is fighting for his or her life. To say fighting cancer is expensive is an understatement. Oftentimes, family and friends of a cancer patient will host an auction within the community in hopes of raising money to help cover the medical expenses. Cancer wristbands emblazoned with the name of the person fighting cancer, along with the word, “Hope” can be given as a thank you. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for helping me in this terrifying fight against cancer. Thank you for helping me beat cancer and kick it to the curb!

Wearing cancer wristbands offers more than support to the person who is fighting cancer. It offers strength. They know someone cares. They know an entire community cares. This kind of immense support is a powerful contributor toward healing.

For the supporter, wearing a cancer wristband with their loved one’s name on it makes them feel like they are making a difference—as small as it may be. Let’s face it, when it comes to cancer, most of us feel pretty helpless. Everyone wishes they could do more. Wearing a cancer wristband brings awareness to all who see it. It may catch the eye of a stranger who decides to ask about it to appease his or her curiosity. When you explain about your friend who has cancer, they may feel moved enough to make a donation or wear his or her own cancer wristband. Maybe they know someone who is fighting for their life, too. Maybe the two of you can find a support system with one another.

Cancer wristbands are an inexpensive way to raise awareness of cancer and a highly effective fundraising tool. Both non-profit organizations and cancer patients themselves can reap great rewards from cancer wristbands—the most important of which is support.

Source: www.wristbands.com – Direct Custom Wristbands Manufacturer in USA