Yellow Fever
Posted: August 26, 2004, 11:09 am
I got mine awhile ago at a bike shop. Had no idea what it was for at the time, but the guy behind the counter told me it was for Lance Armstrong's cancer foundation. Having lost several family members to cancer, I picked one up.. At that time I'd never seen anyone wearing one or anything, but figured what the hell. Now they're everywhere, as the article below states.. Do you think they're getting so popular because of a fad or are more people really supporting the foundation?
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http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ss ... 627210.xml
Yellow fever
They're bright yellow, like the jerseys worn by cycling legend Lance Armstrong. They're tough, like Armstrong's battle against cancer in 1996. And they raise money for cancer research. LiveStrong bracelets are easy to see, but now almost impossible to buy.
Actor Robin Williams has one. So does Will Smith and even former President Clinton. Presidential candidate John Kerry had one on when he visited hurricane victims in Florida last week.
Baton Rouge golden girl Carly Patterson wore one on the day after she won her Olympic all-around gymnastics gold medal. And Justin Gatlin became the fastest man in the world wearing one in his 100-meter victory Sunday. In fact, if you look closely at the athletes in Athens, you'll see them everywhere.
But anyone now looking for his own distinctive yellow Lance Armstrong LiveStrong wristband may be out of luck.
For all practical purposes, they're gone -- at least for the moment.
"We felt confident that we would be able to sell the initial 5 million bracelets, but what's happened since has taken us by complete surprise," said Michelle Milford, a spokeswoman for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which created, with Nike, the bright yellow elastic bands as a tribute to cyclist Lance Armstrong's fight against cancer. By selling the bands for $1 each, the foundation aimed to raise awareness about cancer as well as money for cancer research.
By the foundation's estimates, since their May release, more than 9 million wristbands have been sold via its Web site, http://www.laf.org, and through national retailers -- Macy's, Nordstrom, Foot Locker, Finish Line, Dick's Sporting Goods and Nike Town stores, which are now for the most part sold out of the wristbands. Milford said the distribution center is working to catch up on the back orders, and if all goes well, a majority should be filled by the end of August.
Earlier this month, at an Armstrong homecoming event in Austin, Texas, to celebrate his sixth Tour de France win, the cyclist spoke about how happy he is to see people across the world wearing the LiveStrong bracelets, Milford said. And, she added, he said he'd been asked when he plans to take off his own bracelet and the answer is: Never.
Armstrong became an influential spokesman in the fight against cancer after winning his own battle with testicular cancer in 1996. At one point, Armstrong had tumors in his lungs and brain, and was given less than a 50-50 shot at surviving.
He beat the odds, and returned to cycling's Super Bowl, the Tour de France, in 1999. He won that race, and five more after it, a feat unmatched in the long history of the race. In the process, he established himself simultaneously as the world's most famous cancer survivor, and one of its greatest athletes.
Like many of the staff members and volunteers at the foundation, Milford said she believes the bracelets are more than just a passing fad.
"Initially we did receive a lot of celebrity support that has certainly helped raise awareness about what the bracelets stand for, but from many of the people we're receiving orders from, we've heard how directly cancer has affected their lives," said Milford, who also credits the low cost and easy wearability of the wristbands as reasons for the project's overwhelming success. "Universally, many people have lost someone and have felt the effects of fighting cancer."
Val Slicho, 44, a New Orleans resident who recently lost a family member to breast cancer, said he has been looking all over town for more LiveStrong bracelets to pass on to mourning family members. He and his son have had wristbands since they came out, but he didn't expect that the supply would go so fast. Otherwise, he said, he would have stocked up and made purchases for everyone in his family.
At the foundation, Milford said, they've heard from many families in similar situations. She said she finds it very touching that the Armstrong bands are being passed out at funerals across the country -- as well as at weddings. The office has even received word that some couples are requesting, in lieu of gifts, that donations be made to the foundation. Just what is inspiring so many people to do such a thing?
Slicho credits Armstrong for inspiring his family.
"No matter how young or old you are, whatever your race, Armstrong is a real hero, a mentor," Slicho said. "The cause, cancer research, is just something that is good for everyone. It's something that all of us are affected by somehow and we need to do all we can to support it."
Davina Bloom, 24, and Sara Wenande, 28, weren't even aware of the trendy status of their yellow bands until strangers started coming up to them and asking about the meaning of their bracelets. And, more important, where and when they got them.
"We have a family member who was just recently diagnosed with cancer, so my brother purchased some off the Web site for everyone in our family. That's why we got them, to support our family," said Bloom, who expects that unlike the recently popular Kabbalah bracelets sported by Madonna, the Armstrong bands won't fade away so easily.
"To us, it really has a meaning; we're not just wearing them to have something cool on. As long as we're fighting cancer in our family, we'll be wearing them."
Wenande said it wasn't until recently that she noticed others were sporting the bracelets. She confessed that she thought her family members were the only people wearing the bands. That is, until she started being deluged with questions about where to find more.
"It's amazing how many people want one," Wenande said. "You'd think it would be easy to mass produce something so simple, but from what I've heard no one can find them anymore."
Most stores in the New Orleans area are out of the bracelets. Foot Locker may get a limited replenished supply, according to a national buyer for the chain, who wouldn't go on record about the exact number. The buyer said Foot Locker never received its complete original order of 1 million units; thus, some stores may get a small number of wristbands once the back orders are filled by the foundation.
In the meantime, however, Milford advises potential customers to hold tight and not turn to auction sites or third-party sales as a means to purchase a bracelet. While such a high demand was not expected, she said, the foundation is doing everything it can to ensure that everyone who wants a wristband will get one.
"By buying one or even more of the wristbands off of an auction site or another individual, there is no way to guarantee that the proceeds will get back to the LAF," Milford said. "By doing so you're not only violating the law, but also violating the whole spirit of the campaign. Don't take the risk -- be patient."
-
http://www.nola.com/living/t-p/index.ss ... 627210.xml
Yellow fever
They're bright yellow, like the jerseys worn by cycling legend Lance Armstrong. They're tough, like Armstrong's battle against cancer in 1996. And they raise money for cancer research. LiveStrong bracelets are easy to see, but now almost impossible to buy.
Actor Robin Williams has one. So does Will Smith and even former President Clinton. Presidential candidate John Kerry had one on when he visited hurricane victims in Florida last week.
Baton Rouge golden girl Carly Patterson wore one on the day after she won her Olympic all-around gymnastics gold medal. And Justin Gatlin became the fastest man in the world wearing one in his 100-meter victory Sunday. In fact, if you look closely at the athletes in Athens, you'll see them everywhere.
But anyone now looking for his own distinctive yellow Lance Armstrong LiveStrong wristband may be out of luck.
For all practical purposes, they're gone -- at least for the moment.
"We felt confident that we would be able to sell the initial 5 million bracelets, but what's happened since has taken us by complete surprise," said Michelle Milford, a spokeswoman for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which created, with Nike, the bright yellow elastic bands as a tribute to cyclist Lance Armstrong's fight against cancer. By selling the bands for $1 each, the foundation aimed to raise awareness about cancer as well as money for cancer research.
By the foundation's estimates, since their May release, more than 9 million wristbands have been sold via its Web site, http://www.laf.org, and through national retailers -- Macy's, Nordstrom, Foot Locker, Finish Line, Dick's Sporting Goods and Nike Town stores, which are now for the most part sold out of the wristbands. Milford said the distribution center is working to catch up on the back orders, and if all goes well, a majority should be filled by the end of August.
Earlier this month, at an Armstrong homecoming event in Austin, Texas, to celebrate his sixth Tour de France win, the cyclist spoke about how happy he is to see people across the world wearing the LiveStrong bracelets, Milford said. And, she added, he said he'd been asked when he plans to take off his own bracelet and the answer is: Never.
Armstrong became an influential spokesman in the fight against cancer after winning his own battle with testicular cancer in 1996. At one point, Armstrong had tumors in his lungs and brain, and was given less than a 50-50 shot at surviving.
He beat the odds, and returned to cycling's Super Bowl, the Tour de France, in 1999. He won that race, and five more after it, a feat unmatched in the long history of the race. In the process, he established himself simultaneously as the world's most famous cancer survivor, and one of its greatest athletes.
Like many of the staff members and volunteers at the foundation, Milford said she believes the bracelets are more than just a passing fad.
"Initially we did receive a lot of celebrity support that has certainly helped raise awareness about what the bracelets stand for, but from many of the people we're receiving orders from, we've heard how directly cancer has affected their lives," said Milford, who also credits the low cost and easy wearability of the wristbands as reasons for the project's overwhelming success. "Universally, many people have lost someone and have felt the effects of fighting cancer."
Val Slicho, 44, a New Orleans resident who recently lost a family member to breast cancer, said he has been looking all over town for more LiveStrong bracelets to pass on to mourning family members. He and his son have had wristbands since they came out, but he didn't expect that the supply would go so fast. Otherwise, he said, he would have stocked up and made purchases for everyone in his family.
At the foundation, Milford said, they've heard from many families in similar situations. She said she finds it very touching that the Armstrong bands are being passed out at funerals across the country -- as well as at weddings. The office has even received word that some couples are requesting, in lieu of gifts, that donations be made to the foundation. Just what is inspiring so many people to do such a thing?
Slicho credits Armstrong for inspiring his family.
"No matter how young or old you are, whatever your race, Armstrong is a real hero, a mentor," Slicho said. "The cause, cancer research, is just something that is good for everyone. It's something that all of us are affected by somehow and we need to do all we can to support it."
Davina Bloom, 24, and Sara Wenande, 28, weren't even aware of the trendy status of their yellow bands until strangers started coming up to them and asking about the meaning of their bracelets. And, more important, where and when they got them.
"We have a family member who was just recently diagnosed with cancer, so my brother purchased some off the Web site for everyone in our family. That's why we got them, to support our family," said Bloom, who expects that unlike the recently popular Kabbalah bracelets sported by Madonna, the Armstrong bands won't fade away so easily.
"To us, it really has a meaning; we're not just wearing them to have something cool on. As long as we're fighting cancer in our family, we'll be wearing them."
Wenande said it wasn't until recently that she noticed others were sporting the bracelets. She confessed that she thought her family members were the only people wearing the bands. That is, until she started being deluged with questions about where to find more.
"It's amazing how many people want one," Wenande said. "You'd think it would be easy to mass produce something so simple, but from what I've heard no one can find them anymore."
Most stores in the New Orleans area are out of the bracelets. Foot Locker may get a limited replenished supply, according to a national buyer for the chain, who wouldn't go on record about the exact number. The buyer said Foot Locker never received its complete original order of 1 million units; thus, some stores may get a small number of wristbands once the back orders are filled by the foundation.
In the meantime, however, Milford advises potential customers to hold tight and not turn to auction sites or third-party sales as a means to purchase a bracelet. While such a high demand was not expected, she said, the foundation is doing everything it can to ensure that everyone who wants a wristband will get one.
"By buying one or even more of the wristbands off of an auction site or another individual, there is no way to guarantee that the proceeds will get back to the LAF," Milford said. "By doing so you're not only violating the law, but also violating the whole spirit of the campaign. Don't take the risk -- be patient."