Jump on the 'band' wagon to support cancer foundation

By Deja M. Powell

December 20, 2004 | They're showing up everywhere, in classrooms, at malls, on college campuses, in political debates. You see them on teenagers, college kids, musicians and athletes. They've created quite a stir, are hard to come by and can now be found in a variety of sizes and colors. So what's creating all the hype? A yellow rubber wristband with the words "LIVESTRONG" etched into it.

Lance Armstrong is known today as one of the greatest cyclists and athletes of of this century. Armstrong is the six-time winner of the Tour de France and is well known for his battle with cancer and his un-anticipated survival. On May 17, 2004, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Nike launched the Wear Yellow Campaign releasing the yellow Livestrong wristbands in hopes of selling a million for $1 a pieces to raise money for the foundation.

Six months after the first yellow band went on sale 150,000 bands are being sold each day and the LAF reports selling over 20,000 LiveStrong bands have been sold. The yellow bands have been sold in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. The rubber bracelets have become a success that neither Armstrong nor his foundation had anticipated.

"Yellow wakes me up in the morning," said Armstrong, a seven-year cancer survivor, on the Nike Web site. "Yellow gets me on the bike everyday. Yellow has taught me the true meaning of sacrifice. Yellow makes me suffer. Yellow is the reason I'm here."

According to the LAF, yellow has always been Armstrong's favorite color and is also the color of his jersey worn at each Tour de France victory.

While the bands have become so popularized many question whether they are still worn to support cancer patients or have they become simply a fashion must-have? Many organizations have expanded the use of the bracelets producing them in different colors, featuring different words and even trying to duplicate the original LiveStrong band.

A company in Omaha, Neb. called Glaze Inc. has made a look-alike copy of the yellow bands with the inscription, "Support a Cure," and on the back say "proceeds will support AIDS and cancer research," the bands turned out to be a hoax and according to the LAF they are concerned about the mock copies of the bands.

Other bands are beginning to pop up in a wide variety of colors including light blue in support of "Freedom." Pink with the inscription, "Hope" in support of breast cancer. Blue for the support of autism. The Republican National Convention also used a red wristband to show party support during the 2004 election.

The bands have become a symbol of hope for some, a fad for others and a marketing frenzy for many organizations.

Branigan Knowlton, a 23-year-old journalism major at USU says, "I wear it (the LiveStrong band) to support a friend and a step brother who was diagnosed with leukemia and to show support for all cancer patients." Knowlton also said, "Yeah, I think they've become trendy but they're supporting a good cause, cancer patients."

Like millions of others, Knowlton ordered his LiveStrong band online at the LAF home page. The bands can also be found at local sporting-good stores and on the Nike Website. The wristbands can be purchased in sets of 1, 10, 100 or 1,200 Ebay has thousands of the bands up for auction, some selling for up to $6.99 a piece.

A reminder that when you do not buy the bands directly through the LAF or Nike you are taking a risk that your money will not go to the various charities.

Matthew Davidson, a 23-year-old finance major has a LiveStrong band but says, "I have one but I don't wear it anymore because it has become way too trendy, it's just collecting dust now."

While Davidson says the bands have become trendy he also agrees that, "the wristbands becoming trendy is not a bad thing, they are supporting a good cause." The nearly 25,000 million bands sold are worn by both male and female, old and young everyone wearing it for a different purpose.

Utah State University has also picked up the wristband fad. Now you can find Aggie Blue wristbands similar to the LiveStrong bands.

Holly Scott, a 21-year-old studying journalism said, "I think the blue wristbands will create more school pride."

While Davidson put away his Live Strong band, he now flaunts the USU band, "I think they're great! It's a chance to show support for USU."

Not all students agree with Davidson and Scott, some students feel the new USU bands are taking away from what the LiveStrong bands stand for, charity.

Whatever the bands stand for they are making a lot of money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which provides money for cancer research for various institutions across the country and for various programs supporting cancer survivors.

It's all good with the LiveStrong bracelets, right? Well, there seems to be a minor glitch in the rubber bands. According to the Boston Channel, many hospitals have banned the bands saying they are being mistaken for the "Do Not Resuscitate" bracelets critical patients wear.

There have not been any serious mishaps but the bracelets are now being covered with white tape to prevent such a fatal mistake.

To get your Lance Armstrong LiveStrong band visit the Lance Armstrong Foundation Website or any Nike sponsored site.

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