Chapter 17
As both an avid cyclist and Lance Armstrong fan, I had worn the yellow LIVESTRONG bracelet since its inception back in May 2004. I admired Lance for his cancer fight, having been given his last rights after testicular cancer had spread to his lungs and brain.
It truly was a miracle.
He went on to win seven Tour de France titles after being given no hope of survival.
The LIVESTRONG Foundation was formed to raise money and to improve the lives of cancer survivors and those affected by cancer worldwide. Millions of dollars were raised through the sale of the yellow bracelets and later dozens of additional products bearing the yellow LIVESTRONG brand.
I always had extra bracelets in a drawer to hand out to family and friends, forever promoting the Foundation.
We all know the story of how Lance lied about doping and the whole scandal eventually had Lance stripped of all his seven Tour de France titles.
I was always of the mindset that Lance was telling the truth. Afterall no other athlete in the world was tested for doping as many times or as often as Lance was. Each test would come back clean, proving his accusers wrong time after time. Eventually, all the lies would catch up to him. Even high tech masking agents could not hide the results from newer higher tech testing methods. He admitted that he had indeed lied and was in fact cheating all those years he was winning races.
I was now thoroughly disgusted with Lance Armstrong.
The LIVESTRONG Foundation was formed to raise money and to improve the lives of cancer survivors and those affected by cancer worldwide. Millions of dollars were raised through the sale of the yellow bracelets and later dozens of additional products bearing the yellow LIVESTRONG brand.
I always had extra bracelets in a drawer to hand out to family and friends, forever promoting the Foundation.
We all know the story of how Lance lied about doping and the whole scandal eventually had Lance stripped of all his seven Tour de France titles.
I was always of the mindset that Lance was telling the truth. Afterall no other athlete in the world was tested for doping as many times or as often as Lance was. Each test would come back clean, proving his accusers wrong time after time. Eventually, all the lies would catch up to him. Even high tech masking agents could not hide the results from newer higher tech testing methods. He admitted that he had indeed lied and was in fact cheating all those years he was winning races.
I was now thoroughly disgusted with Lance Armstrong.
I had supported Lance and I was always in his corner. Now he was nothing more than a liar and a cheater. In January 2013 I threw my yellow band in the garbage after the infamous Oprah Winfrey interview on television.
Fast forward ten months to Saturday October 26th, Sherry and I are visiting our friends Tony and Marla at their home in Marchmount. Another couple we had met before, Scott and Beth lived across the street and dropped over to say hi. Scott and Beth had an eight year old son named Jack and I still remember the moment like it was yesterday. Jack arrived with his parents, he immediately walked over to where I was sitting in the living room and he handed me a LIVESTRONG yellow bracelet.
"He wanted you to have it," his dad Scott told me.
Fast forward ten months to Saturday October 26th, Sherry and I are visiting our friends Tony and Marla at their home in Marchmount. Another couple we had met before, Scott and Beth lived across the street and dropped over to say hi. Scott and Beth had an eight year old son named Jack and I still remember the moment like it was yesterday. Jack arrived with his parents, he immediately walked over to where I was sitting in the living room and he handed me a LIVESTRONG yellow bracelet.
"He wanted you to have it," his dad Scott told me.
I did not want to be rude and say Lance was a fraud and I would never wear that bracelet again. I slipped the rubber band onto my right wrist and thanked him for the gift. I had full intentions of throwing that one in the garbage also when we left that night.
For whatever reason I didn’t and the following Thursday I was diagnosed while wearing Jack's bracelet. I have worn the LIVESTRONG bracelet ever since.
Seriously, I can’t make this shit up.
For whatever reason I didn’t and the following Thursday I was diagnosed while wearing Jack's bracelet. I have worn the LIVESTRONG bracelet ever since.
Seriously, I can’t make this shit up.