Lance Armstrong is synonymous with toughness and the unwillingness, even inability, to give up the fight, whether on a bike or in a hospital bed. Even casual observers know his compelling narrative. An elite cyclist, Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer that spread to his lungs, brain, and abdomen. After aggressive treatments, he emerged stronger than he was before, eventually winning an unprecedented seven straight Tours de France (1999 – 2005) and perhaps challenging for another in 2009 after taking a few years off.
In 1997, he founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF). The Foundation, the popularity of which can easily be seen in the ubiquity of rubber yellow Livestrong bracelets around you, pursues an agenda focusing on prevention, treatment access, survivorship, and research. Today, the LAF is at the tip of the spear in the fight against cancer by raising awareness, funding research, and promoting healthy living. In 2007, charitable giving surpassed $13 million and program spending exceeded $24 million.
The Lance Armstrong Foundation can be found at www.livestrong.org.