Livestrong: Lance Armstrong’s Support for Cancer

by Momoko Nomura

“Cancer is tough, and it still claims too many lives, but I think that hope is the greatest weapon a person has”. Lance Armstrong sent his message to people recently diagnosed with cancer. In fact, in 1996, Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was still twenty five years old. He had a slim a chance for recovery because it was serious disease. However, he wanted to recover as cyclist, so he decided to treat of chemotherapy. While he was being treated, he continued to ride his bicycle as much as he could. As a result, he could return to professional racing.  This experience affected him greatly to stay life strong. Lance Armstrong created Livestrong to provide support for cancer patients and lend support and money to other cancer organizations.

Lance Armstrong made history in 2005 by winning the Tour de France cycling race for the seventh time. He was born on September 18, 1971, in Plano, Texas. He was athletic from an early age. He began training and quickly rose in the amateur ranks of cycling. In 1990, he became the U.S. National Amateur Champion. After two years, he turned professional and joined the cycling team. During his career, he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. At the time, there were some articles about him. However, he continued to deny using performance-enhancing drugs. In 2008, the medical test proved that he has not use drugs.

Through his charity institution the “Lance Armstrong Foundation”(LAF), Armstrong provides support for people with cancer. When he got cancer, he wondered about whether he would recover from cancer completely or not, and about his future life as a cyclist. In fact, his cycling team cancelled his contracts after he was diagnosed with cancer. However, he won the first of seven Tour de France a few years after his recovering. The reason was that he was supported by those around him. Therefore, he established the LAF to make sure that nobody had to undergo the “desperation of diagnosis” alone. From his experience, he leaned that there were three important things to keep in mind: have a good advocate, seek more opinions and question doctors, and seek out support from friends and family. In 1997, Armstrong decided to provide information through LAF. It is too difficult for the patients find the information by themselves. LAF is trying to provide information about physical, practical and emotional consequences of cancer for those who suffer from the disease or who have family and friends with the disease.

Through LAF, Armstrong lends money to other cancer organizations. According to his research, the strategy for treating cancer has changed from ‘seek and destroy’ to ‘target and control.’ Therefore, he makes an effort to promote cancer and give information to people with cancer. Armstrong said “Supporters of the California Cancer Research Act (CCRA) have worked hard to build awareness of the issue and recently turned in signatures, including an unprecedented 115,000 collected by volunteers, to qualify the measure for the 2012 presidential primary ballot. In fact, CCRA dedicates more than $500 million for cancer research. Also, LAF provides millions of dollars for cancer research and community based programs for people with cancer. Besides, Armstrong participates in another organization which is called Pelotonia. He empathized with Pelotonia’s mission which to fund life-saving cancer research, efforts to support survivors and empower people with cancer all over the world. Also, he decided to share their mission, so he joined Pelotonia’s “century ride” that new cycling tour in 2009. Armstrong showed his recovery from serious cancer and encouraged to people with cancer through lending his celebrity.

Through the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Armstrong keeps helping people with cancer and supports other cancer organizations. Through his experience, Lance provides cancer information which is needed by cancer patients to stay strong. Also, he cooperates other cancer organizations through LAF. I think that it is not easy to do as Lance Armstrong. He made use of his experience and helps people with cancer all over the world. The human power that he believes in is grand. He gives people with cancer hope to live strong through his spirit that is enable impossibility. His idea gets through. Not only his ides about cancer disease but also his positive approach to living.

Momoko Nomura is a second-year student in the Department of British and American Cultural Studies.