Do you remember that yellow bracelet that everyone wanted to have? Were you one of those who had a livestrong bracelet? But do you remember why they were used? What was its purpose? And most importantly, what happened to all that movement? Today we are going to review history and answer all those questions.
What is the livestrong bracelet?
Before we start we need to remember and explain what livestrong bracelets were. It all started in the year 1996, when the cyclist Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer, so his dreams of being the best cyclist of all time were cut short. Armstrong founded Livestrong in 1997, an NGO that supports cancer cure research and cancer sufferers.
After battling this disease for two years, the now retired cyclist defeated cancer and was able to return to his life as a high-performance athlete. In that same year he began what was one of the most impressive sports careers in history by winning 7 consecutive Tours de France.
It is at the end of 2003 after the five years of rigor that must be waited for the cancer not to return that the American through his foundation "Lance Armstrong Foundation" launches the "Livestrong" bracelet in a project called "Wear Yellow Live Strong " which sought to raise money for research into cancer cures.
The bracelet was part of the educational program "Wear Yellow Live Strong" whose purpose was to collect money for cancer research, as well as its prevention and support for all people who suffer from it.
Only one dollar cost that bracelet, money that went entirely to the foundation. The bracelet went viral thanks to the fact that great athletes and Hollywood stars wore it both in their daily lives and in important events. More than 50 million bracelets were sold when it was at its peak.
Popularity in Mexico of the livestrong bracelet
In Mexico the popularity of this bracelet grew like foam, largely thanks to the number of celebrities who wore this yellow bracelet. Fashion and the desire not to be left behind reached such a point that up to 300 pesos were paid for one of them. Although the meaning of what we were wearing was really unknown.
The purpose of wearing a yellow bracelet was not only to raise money for the foundation, but also to give visibility to the cause. If a lot of people wear the cancer bracelet, the cancer theme will more easily become a trend and, therefore, more people would be willing to collaborate financially with it.
Such was the furore of the livestrong bracelet that the foundation raised more than 500 million dollars in favor of the cancer community in the United States. Unfortunately, everything was forgotten because in 2012, Armstrong was accused of systematic doping by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), finding himself guilty of the charges.
Lance Armstrong doping
Lance Armstrong confessed during an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he used prohibited substances to advance his cycling career. Due to this, the former cyclist decided to break all ties with the foundation so as not to harm it due to his negative acts.
With the notoriety stemming from the actions of the Livestrong founder, brands like Nike disassociated themselves from Livestrong entirely. This marked the definitive end of the fashion for yellow bracelets, leaving the foundation in a bad light.
What has become of the Livestrong Foundation and Lance Armstrong?
Despite the doping scandal, Lance Armstrong has remained active in the business world as he has invested in different technology companies such as Uber and Docusign, which have generated million-dollar profits. In addition, the former cyclist created an investment fund, Next Ventures, together with former Canadian athlete Lionel Conacher, which in 2019 had already raised 23 million from its associates to invest in sports brands and in the wellness and nutrition sector.
For its part, the Livestrong Foundation continues to support cancer patients, but completely distanced from what its founder and main promoter was at the beginning of the new millennium. Currently you can donate through the page www.livestrong.org and support all those people who live this terrible disease.
Did you use the livestrong bracelet? What do you think of Lance Armstrong and his fraud as an athlete?
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