It is difficult to find a single piece of clothing that is consistently worn by a multitude of University students. It is even harder to discover a single accessory that is equally popular among diverse segments of the student body. Around Grounds today, however, many students can be spotted making an identical fashion statement: a plain, yellow band worn on their wrist, imprinted with the motto: LIVESTRONG.
These bracelets -- small, inexpensive loops of plastic -- can convey a world of meaning in their simple but powerful statement.
"Wear Yellow: Live Strong" was the motto that Olympic cyclist and five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong adopted when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. His cycling career was at its peak when he received this life-changing news in 1996. He was only 25 years old. At a moment when Armstrong might have thrown in the towel, he chose to take an active role in the fight for cancer by creating the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997. Through the LAF, Armstrong vowed to help educate people around the world about the ways to overcome cancer and assist those who are battling the disease, according to laf.org.
One way in which Armstrong chose to spread his subtle yet powerful mantra to "live strong" was through the creation of yellow, rubber bracelets etched with those words. The bracelet color was chosen to match the yellow jersey that Armstrong wears during the Tour de France.
Armstrong's goal for the LAF was to raise $5 million to support cancer victims the world over. The project proved to have a greater impact than Armstrong had initially hoped. It grew tremendously over the years, gained public exposure and has now sold enough bracelets to surpass Armstrong's original fundraising aim. Today, approximately 11 million people across America and around the world have purchased bracelets, and in doing so, raised approximately $11 million dollars for cancer research.
Many students at the University are proud to say that they can be among the multitude of individuals who support the LAF.
First-year College student Carolyn Kener grew up in Austin, Texas, where the LAF was originally founded.
"The foundation was so large and popular in my area, and it is one of the most efficient fundraisers for cancer victims," Kener said.
Kener also had a personal reason for buying her commemorative bracelet.
"My dad had cancer, so this is the easiest way I know to support ongoing cancer research," she said.
Other college students said they also supported this cause because they have experienced the tragedy of cancer on a personal level.
"I wear the yellow 'Live Strong' bracelet in remembrance of my father, who died eight months ago," first-year College student Wendy Hudspeth said. "He was always my biggest supporter in whatever I did, so this is my way of supporting him. Every time I see the bracelet I think of my dad, and it makes me sad, but it also gives me courage and hope."
Another College student, third-year Kara Truhe, said she realized first-hand how popular the bracelets had become while working at a camp over the summer.
"This past summer I worked at a sports camp in Los Angeles. When I got there, I noticed everyone -- both the campers and counselors alike -- wearing the 'Live Strong' bracelet," Truhe said. "The neat thing was that three of the campers that I had over the summer were Demi Moore's children. When she came to visit them, I met her and Ashton Kutcher, both of whom were wearing the yellow bracelets. It was nice to see that celebrities are finally endorsing a positive cause."
Besides purchasing the bracelet online from LAF's official Web site, students have also been influenced to buy the yellow bracelets because of the support that the LAF has received from businesses around the nation, such as Nike and other sports stores. These stores, aside from donating money directly to the organization, have ordered large quantities of the bracelets in order to help educate the public on the positive progress that the LAF is making in the fight against cancer. Nike has raised an additional $5 million in its sales of the "Live Strong" bracelets.
"One day when I had finished shopping in Champs Sports and was checking out, the cashier asked me if I was interested in purchasing a 'Live Strong' bracelet," first-year College student Thomas Puryear said. "It was the first time I had ever heard about them. I decided to buy it because it was for a charitable cause, and I've had the bracelet for nearly three months now."
Other students said they decided to buy the bracelet, not only because the purchase supports the fight against cancer, but because the bracelets are becoming a popular trend. First-year College student Sara Stinson said she believes that these bracelets serve multiple purposes.
"My two best friends from high school got them, and I felt bad about not having one because it seemed like everyone had them," Stinson said. "It's such a cheap way to support a good cause, and it's a good conversation starter here at the University."
Another first-year College student, Joanna Herrmann, said she thinks that the bracelets make a statement about the people that wear them.
"I know when I see people wearing the bracelet that I have something in common with them," Herrmann said. "It's cool to know that we are all supporting the same beliefs and beneficial cause."
In Armstrong's own words on the LAF Web site:"Yellow wakes me up in the morning.
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."
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