Live Strong- Page 2

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:06pm

The fact that I have seen people purchasing ones that say "Best Friends" and turning them inside out. The fact that I've seen them on Ebay for 5x the original price, and the fact that I've seen bridge and tunnell tourists in NYC buying knockoffs from a cart screaming "yes, finally." THOSE PEOPLE.

[etoile]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:16pm

Bracelets in one form or another, for one cause or another, will always be with us. I know people still wearing POW/MIA bracelets.
Guess they don't realize what a tacky "fashion statement" that is.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:18pm

Again, people are twisting what my intention was, which I clearly stated several times. Many people do not wear Livestrong bracelets as a fashion statement. The terrible thing that I'm talking about is that many do and for the wrong reasons. I'm not really discounting the bracelets, but the fools that think a Livestrong bracelet with their Uggs makes the perfect outfit.

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:36pm

* More than 20 million "Live Strong" wristbands have been purchased.

* LAF sells approximately 150,000 wristbands every day.

* On Sept. 20, 2004, a record-breaking 382,000 wristbands were sold in one day.

These figures were tabulated as of December 1, 2004. And for those who don't know, LAF stands for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:50pm

Although I do not own the Live Strong bracelets, I do own the "Hope" bracelet, which was started by the Notre Dame Basketball coach, Mike Brey, for Coaches vs. Cancer. I also do own one for breast cancer, and MS.

I have cancer because my grandfather died of it when I was in sixth grade. I've always been the youngest granddaughter, and some of his last words were "I'm sorry I'll never see Linzy grow up like her sister and cousin". I wear it in memory of him, hoping someday that people won't have to go through that loss.

I think Live Strong is great. It is terrible that people are wanting to make a profit out of it. It's a great cause.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:04pm

I'd just thought I would add my two cents in.
I think the original idea of the Live Strong bands was great. But sadly, it HAS turned into a fashion statement or a sign of popularity in at least my high school. A couple of days ago, I heard a girl beg for a purple live strong bracelet just so it would match her outfit. My highschool (gymnastics team) has even made a Live Strong type bracelet that just has our school name on it. Sure it's great that people are helping a great cause, but do they need to flaunt it?

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 7:41pm

I wear my Livestrong for awareness and for a family friend who passed away because of cancer.

People who have cancer or are survivors appreciate people wearing them.. I was stopped in a diner by a survivor that just wanted to shake my hand and thank me for wearing the bracelet, for that reason I will keep wearing it.

I have a funny story about the bracelet: I bought one for my mom who works as a Nursing Home Administrator, and she was wearing hers and a patient with alzyhymers asks "You live hear now?" thinking it was a patient bracelet! She doesnt wear it to work anymore!

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 9:13pm

I don't know if it is just in my area, but now the Live Strong bracelets have also become a hazard in hospitals. The yellow band means "Do Not Rececitate (sp?)" so they are becoming bigger issues now. I didn't really think it would be that big of a deal, but, in a hospital it's all rush and go.

I'll just stick with my blue HOPE one for now...

[feinstein9]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:05pm

yeah i think it's great when people are wearing them for the fight against cancer, but when i saw the "support our troops" or "best friends" yellow rubber band bracelets at the walgreens check out, a great shudder came over me.

[CJR]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:29pm

I loathe the people who are wearing them because they think they're trendy. It's utterly stupid and I want to smack them upside their heads. I asked someone one day what the bracelet was (just to see if they knew) and their reply was "Damned if I know; everyone's wearing them"

WTF.

I have one, and I wear it from time to time (not all the time because an adult size was FAR too big on me -- and yes, I got it right off the website) because my father died of cancer a little over a year ago and I know a few people who currently have cancer, have died of it, or who are cancer survivors.

Bravo to those who wear them for the right reasons.... and shame on everyone who wears them because "all the cool kids are doing it."

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:32pm

CJR - the reason I posted the figures above is to show that, even though some people may be bastradizing the original intent, there are millions who obviously have the right intention in their hearts.

[ALittleNorthofKansas]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:51pm

Some may call it tacky, I have one, I wear it, my dad is fighting cancer and yes he's living strong.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:57pm

Well then you're obviously wearing it for all the right reasons, and that's what it's for.

[liotte]

Posted: 1/28/05 at 12:16am

The day I found out that my mother had breast cancer, I feverishly went onto the website to find out how I could help. I bought a nice silver bracelet with pink hearts and a pink ribbon on it, and I also have a breast cancer jelly bracelet. I wear them in support of my mother, my other relatives that suffered through cancer, and everyone else who is struggling against disease. I also work in a school, in which my students wear multi-colored jelly bracelets on their arms, and frequently comment and compare them. And when they point out that I am wearing one too, I like to be an example for showing my support to a good cause, and teaching them that they too are helping out in the world and that's it a great thing.

[Spooky]

Posted: 1/28/05 at 1:13pm

I don't think it's tacky or bad. I mean we all know what the red ribbons are for, the pink ones, hell even the yellow ribbon magnets on your car.
My nephew knows what the yellow bracelet is for. And he has no idea who Lance Armstrong is. But he knows it's the cancer bracelet and he's 7.
I mean, if it were the aqua "common cold" bracelet, I might question it, but all of the causes that have spurred trendy accessories to show support or awareness have done just that.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/28/05 at 1:15pm

"the aqua "common cold" bracelet..."

Oh, I need me one of those...where do you get them?

[Spooky]

Posted: 1/28/05 at 1:16pm

Just fuse a bunch of Nyquil together

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 12:14am

I think that like a lot of things today, you can become very jaded about something that had its origins in a purely beneficial cause. I don't think that you should let that blind you to the overall good that these things actually do.

Whether the bracelet was purchased to support Live Strong or not, the fact is that if it was purchased from a legitimate source, then some part of the funding will get to the foundation. Even if it was purchased from a vendor on the streets of Manhattan, couldn't there still be a value come from it? People seeing the bracelet, whether worn for fashion or charity, will remember the cause and possibly contribute something themselves. The appearance of the bracelet in public will keep the reality of this great need out in front where people simply can't forget about it.

I have been a Chemoangel. The Chemoangels are an organization that matches up volunteer 'angels' with cancer patients to help give them a little extra friendship and support while they're going through chemotherapy. I always wear a little angel and a pink ribbon on my lapel. People see it and ask me about it all the time. This gives me an opportunity to let them know about the Chemoangels (and do a little recruiting) and the pink ribbon pin reminds them of the constant fight against breast cancer. (All but one of my 'chemo buddies' have had breast cancer.)

ANYWAY - you could say that wearing the angel pin has become SO OVERDONE and people are just wearing the pins and ribbons to make a fashion statement. And maybe it's true. But if only one individual sees that pin or ribbon and thinks about tossing in a dollar or two next time they pass one of the collection boxes, then the 'fashion statement' has done its duty.

[OneLastRefrain2]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 12:20am

I used to wear my livestrong everyday. Everyone in this tennis training camp i was at got one to remember to do just that- live strong. and because one of the counselors was diagnosed with cancer, so it was appropriate. I wore it everyday for a looong time. and then I was in NYC in November, and it fell off somewhere in the streets. and i tried to retrace my steps, but it was gone.

What I don't like about the livestrong fad, is that now there are a million takeoffs. Not that i dont think its good to support charity by selling a bracelet, but i hate the ones at stores like claire's or other random places that they sell just because they look like livestrongs, they dont support any charity.

[Katecab99]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 2:56am

as long as you purchased it from LAF, it's all good. it is true that a "fashion statement" has been made out of it, but in my opinon, (if they are the LEGITIMATE bracelets) the money is going to a good cause, regardless of the motive behind wearing them.

[CatieElphie1]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 3:08pm

I agree. I think the Livestrong bands are for a noble cause and it really and truly disgusts me to see the kids at my school hawking them for $5 bucks a pop becuase they know that now they're cool, so everybody wants one.
MY grandfather died of lung cancer after a two year battle. I was five. I still remember the way my mom looked as she told me that he had passed on, and the way I didn't understand.
No one should have to go through that. No one. And anything that could help stop cancer is okay by me.

[Liam]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 3:12pm

i have one