A small wristband is making a big difference among Ball Statestudents this semester. While Abercrombie bracelets and Fossilwatches dress the wrists nicely, they don't have the same touch asthe yellow Livestrong bands. They don't provide funding fornon-profit organizations. They weren't started by a man who justwon his sixth straight Tour de France. And they can't beat the lowprice of one dollar.
"Livestrong" is Lance Armstong's mantra. It is the belief thatknowledge is power and attitude is everything when battling cancer.Armstrong has shown this attitude on and off his bike, frombattling cancer to creating one of the most powerful fundraisersthis year. Armstrong believes that there is no such thing as acancer patient, only a cancer survivor.
The original goal was to raise $5 million. Since the campaignbegan on May 11, 2003, a million wristbands have been sold all overthe world at a dollar each.
Students aren't the only ones getting in on this trend.Celebrities are showing their support, too. John Kerry wore one ofthe bands on the Daily Show and Jay Leno shows his support bypassing out the wristbands to all of his audience members andguests.
Across the nation and across Ball State's campus people areshowing support for cancer survivors.
"I wouldn't still buy it if it didn't go towards cancer[research]," senior Ricky Mesina said.
Some students wear the yellow band for the inspiration that itshows.
"He's an inspiration story in himself," Luke Behning said. "It'samazing how one bracelet can raise so much money."
Mary Vigel, Manager of Cancer Center Boutique, said, "LanceArmstrong bands are a way to support cancer awareness of anytype."
Vigel helps families and patients at the cancer center by givingthem supplies as well as personal advice on how she coped withcancer.
She said she knows that awareness is key for cancer patients tomake it through the battle. "You can talk to a physician, but toactually talk to someone who has had [cancer] makes all thedifference in the world, because there's more of a connection,"Vigel said.
In October, Vigel will celebrate five years since beingdiagnosed.
"It's a very big deal," Vigel said. "I'm going tocelebrate!"
Even students who aren't fans of Armstrong lend their wrists tothe cause.
"I don't dislike Lance Armstrong, but I wouldn't have bought itif it didn't go towards cancer research," senior Aaron Murraysaid.
"It's a trendy thing. If that's the reason students bought it,that's fine too," senior Bryan Corn said. "It still goes towards agood cause. I thought, 'What's a dollar?'"
Livestrong bands come in youth and adult sizes and can bepurchased at www.laf.org. The wristbands can be shipped morequickly through online auctions, but the extra cost does notbenefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Due to the very high demandit takes approximately three weeks to ship the wristbands throughthe foundation.
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