Live Strong Bracelets - Who Cares?
 

When i first started seeing these things, i thought it was some kind of fashion thing...and then i was told that they represented that individual's donation to the Lance A. Cancer Research Foundation, and thought "oh, ok, i guess that's cool then".

then i was getting my christmas tree the other day at a local tree stand, which is operated by high school aged kids. and there were a bunch of these high schoolers hanging out talking and smoking...and at least half of the ones that were smoking...were wearing these yellow bracelets.

i then was at a bar where i saw more of the same, smokers wearing the yellow bracelets...and i approached one girl and asked her why she was smoking and wearing the cancer bracelet...and she said "oh, is that what this thing is?" laughed it off and went back to pufffing.

to those wearing these things for the purpose they were originally intended, just be aware that it has now become another iconclastic piece of MTV pop follower fashion. it means nothing anymore. just a heads up.

It's like a bumper sticker. It' either trendy, or it cheapens your belief by saying, "Look at me, the best I can do for htis cause is put a fucking sticker on my car"

My 10 year old niece pretty sums up the trend... She and her brothers were wearing them on Thanksgiving, and I made some comment to her about how it was a noble cause and that Lance Armstrong was a pretty cool role mode. She looks up at me and says Who's Lance Armstrong? And what's the cause of the bracelet-- she wanted one because everyone at school had one.

My idiot sister was somewhat appalled.

A guy I work with has had his since June or July. Whenever the Tour de France was going. He got his because he actually HAS cancer.

And I agree, it's become a trend.

Hmm. Well, I'm a vegitarian, I don't smoke, and I'm wearing one of these braclets because I actually think the cause is a good one. I live in a house with a bunch of girls from the soccer team, and they all wear one, again, because they like the cause. I have yet to meet anyone who has a livestrong braclet for fashion reasons. Does that balance things out a bit?

You know, as fads go, this one's pretty benign. At least every bracelet you see on a vapid, chain-smoking teenager represents a donation to research cures for cancer.

i didnt mean to offend. i am simply saying that the message or representation that the bracelet was originally intended to convey is now muddled and confusing. so if you wear it public for the purpose of showing others that you are an avid supporter of the fight against cancer (kind of like your visible, 'look at me, i donated to a good cause' receipt)...just understand that many of us might instead mistake you for an ignorant fashion clone. and as it goes right now, we'd probably be right more than half the time.

trew. :thumbsup:

Good point ratbastid. It is for a good cause.

Who gives a crap if the mindless drones don't have any intelligence. Someone somewhere donated money to the cause to get the bracelet.

Maybe it will help save some chain smoking teenagers life? I am all for helping the search for cures.

Knowing what we know now about the companies that make, market, and sell this crap. Are we doing nothing to prevent the tobacco companies from getting ahold of our children? It really disturbs me to see teenagers smoking.

Good point... it really is "mindless fashion"

I gave money for it. Cancer research is very importent to me because almost everyone in my family has died from it.

Who cares if it is a fad, the bracelets represent a good cause.

I've had my yellow bracelet long before it was "cool" to wear one. I first heard about the Lance Armstrong Foundation and its idea for the bracelet back in June, and I picked one up as soon as I could find a store that carried them. I haven't taken it off since then. Two of my close family relatives have had cancer, and both have survived. I wear the bracelet not only in support of them, but for everyone else who has ever suffered from the disease. It makes me mad to see people treat them like some sort of fashion trend, but I guess there's not a whole lot I can do about it.

If a peice of jewellery, or whatever, becomes a trend, yet it still supports a good cause, then it's still all good. In fact, if everyone who had a bad habit found it trendy to buy one of these bracelets, or any other fund-raising article for that matter, we'd still all probably be better off.

Still, wouldn't it be nice if a little bit of awareness actually crept into the social fabric along with the trendiness? That, alas, may be a bit much to ask for. And as others have already mentioned, there are still many people who wear the item with the full knowledge of what it means, so let's not generalize about vapid teen culture, maybe it's deeper then it appears.

Peace,

Pierre

but its really not...and therein lies the entire point of my thread.

i was watching E the other day and saw a clip of Paris Hilton wearing one. because the million dollar heiress wants everyone to know she donated $1 dollar of all of her millions to cancer research? i doubt it.

My wife had one of the braclets hanging on the shifter in her car (she donated to the cause). I was watching "Overhaulin'" on TLC when they were doing Lance's GTO and she walked in, I told her they were doing his car that Sheryl Crow bought him as a present. She was appauled that Lance got a divorce (because he has kids) and was dating Crow. I was in her car last night and noticed the bracelet was gone... probably in the trash.

Yes it has become a 'fashion trend.' My roommate was looking for a place to buy one for a while just because everyone else has one and he wanted one too. Sure the money is going to a good cause, but the intentions for buying the braclet just aren't there, and that's kinda sad.

What makes me REALLY pissed off is people profiting off of how this has become a fashion statement. On ebay there are tons of auctions for braclets. Sure, if the seller donated the money that was raised from the auction to the Lance Armstrong foundation it would be very noble, but that is obviously not the case. I was in the mall the other day and in one store they were selling them for $3. If I wasn't in such a rush I would have stopped and gave them shit for marking them up. Perhaps I will go back to that store and give them a piece of my mind.

If you do, make sure to take it out on a manager or owner, and not the poor sap working the counter. They get enough underserved shit as it is.

I guess I must be officially getting old because nobody I know has one of these and I've only heard about them in passing. But the coincidental thing about this is today I was at 7-11 and lo and behold there was a little box of olive green braclets that said "support our troops" on it and for every one sold they would donate a dollar to USO. And they were being sold for......3 bucks. Ok...so you are charging me 3 bucks for a .10 rubberband and you are only giving 1 dollar of it to the troops? Hmmmm...yeah no thanks.
I love this country but the capitalism is to the point being of ridiculous now.

I havn't seen this braclets aroudn here..must be an american thing

You're not the only one who's out of the loop, Lockjaw. I can do you one better: This is the first time I've heard about these bracelets! *hangs head in shame at my lack of hipness*

Making it into a dumb fashion trend is the best marketing strategy- more money for the research that way. Education all the way around is on slippery footing these days, IMO. I don't expect much from the average person anymore in the way of "social conciousness".

Lets just hope they all die of lung cancer and never get to see the benifits of the money they donated.

I have one of the Radio One anti-bullying ones instead,

I guess to a degree it is a fashion trend, but they are both good causes, and it raises awareness of the issues, if not for everyone then at least for some.

so, her dollar is as good as anyone else's, is it not?

Maybe I'm completely ignorant. I haven't noticed these bracelets at all. Of course I work at home and usually only go out to go to family homes, Dr's office, dentist, Walmart or grocery store. Is this more of a regional thing? I hadn't even heard of the bracelets or their cause? Where are they sold? Stores? by word of mouth? or through a company like Avon or something? I know Avon has a few things like this. Their Pink ribbon pins don't seem to have become fashion icons. - Then again I'm not thoroughly fashion consious and I don't watch MTV. Am I missing out?

I find it something to roll my eyes at when I hear of people following the crowd like this. In this case I figure at least it has the redeeming quality of representing money that's being used for a positive purpose whether or not the money is coming from lemmings.

Do something really noble.

Buy an Adopt a Sniper bracelet. Support the troops.

http://www.adoptasniper.org

I think these bracelets are going the way of the magnetic ribbons everyone is sticking on their cars. My daughter has a Live Strong bracelet-but it's purple and from a convenience store. I truly doubt any money went to anyplace but someone's pocket. A recent article in the Newark Star Ledger reported that people are buying the magnetic ribbons from convenience stores believing their money goes to whatever fund the ribbon may represent. Most times it does not. Before one buys any of these bracelets, ribbons or any other trinket 'for a good cause', ask the seller where the money is going.

http://www.laf.org/
THe wrist band was a joint effort between Nike and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, but from what I've read the donations aren't going towards finding a cure for cancer or even cancer research, like the the other big name cancer charities. This organization and the bracelets are supposed to serve as a reminder as to how to live your life.. Live Strong. for both people wiht cancer and for people without cancer.

It's a nice message -- but gets lost in the trendiness of it.

There was a time when you couldn't turn on a television and see an event that celebrities attended without seeing the ubiquitious Red Ribbon. Every celebrity wore one on their designer duds. Was supposed to promote AIDS awareness. I don't know whether I just don't watch awards shows any more, or has the popularity of the red ribbon dropped out.

Raising awareness of something is a good thing, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing when people only want something because everyone else has it. And I know it's not a good thing when people are marking up the cost of these things and selling them on Ebay.

I am being dumb and naive i know... but that is a parody, right?

I didn't know about this Live Strong bracelet thing until my friend showed me his black Live Wrong bracelet in retaliation to this fad. Living in a town surrounded by multiple military bases, every other car has one of those Yellow "Support Our Troops" ribbon magnets things. I'm sure there's better ways to give money to the troops then by paying $3 for a ribbon, and having MAYBE, MAYBE $1 of those dollars going to some agency that MIGHT then get the money to the military, MAYBE.

I'll stick with occassionally going out drinking with some air force cadets and buying them shots as my form of "support".

Except that at the mall two weeks ago, I saw yellow knockoff ones that said things like "BE STRONG" and "BEST OF FRIENDS" on them - people capitalizing on this trend - it makes me sick.

Link

Anything good will eventually get used wrong when it falls into the wrong hands. That's the part of life that sucks. But the part that makes it worthwhile is all the good people out there doing the right things for the right reasons!

Reminds me of the AIDs ribbons, soon there were so many different colored ribbons out there I could never remember what color was for what cause.

Bingo.

And that's all that matters. If only more cancer research/lifesaving programs could have a stupid fad that made every teen in america want to buy something worthless just because all their friends had one... with all the proceeds going to the programs.

We'd have cancer, diabetes, AIDS, and others such problems by the balls in no time.

Nope, it is absolutely on the level. They are sending special "care" packages to support the sniper community.

It sounds funny, but the things they are helping to provide are items that are above and beyond what the supply system can give them. Crossword puzzle books, hand lotion, armor better suited to the person who might be in position for hours at a time.

There is is an entire laundry list of items that sniper teams use or need on a day-to-day basis, things that they don't have access to or would typically provide for themselves if they could. They also spend a lot more time in the field making re-supply difficult at times. Regular infantry has regular access ;-)

As well, the military is making use of its expert riflemen as snipers. For these teams, they may have one or two rated snipers providing them the experience. All these guy get is the basic sniper weapons kits (scopes, m-21/24, barret, whatever). They are not as "equipped" as a full-time sniper is. They haven't had the time to "acquire" the goodies.

I smirk when I see them. I know it's cynical, but the people I see wearing them seem to use the Cancer Foundation background as an excuse to be trendy. Hop on the bandwagon yall!!

And many people didn't know, but there are other colored bracelets that Nike released that said otherthings, like Teamwork (I think). My friends got them from Nike Town a while back (at least the middle of summer...). They came in dark blue and a few other colors.

I own several of the bracelets and have had them since long before the Tour de France, I log about 30 - 50 miles on my bicycle a week, and I am a Lance Armstrong fan.

But I also smoke. It's my choice, persecute me if you will... but guess what, the more people complain, the less I care.

Good. Seems I'm not the only one who hates these stupid bracelets. Almost as much as I hate "support your troops" magnets on cars. If a person was really interested in donating money to a good cause, they wouldn't need some gimmick to go with it.

I feel like a bit of a hypocrit, since I haven't donated to any good causes lately (but I'm also a poor college student who thinks a good cause involves Ramen noodles and my belly). Maybe I'll go buy a couple of those bracelets (I haven't seen any for sale anywhere, come to think of it) and promptly throw them in the trash. Donation made, no need for trendy bullshit bracelets. I really don't care if people know I donated or not. It's trivial.

Or maybe, instead of throwing them away, I'll wear all of them at the same time, like those cars you see with 15 support your troops magnets.

As long as they still have to pay for them, the funds go to the research.

Sad, but not as bad as them NOT wearing them.


Mr Mephisto

Or better yet just go get a money order for 10 bucks and send it in to a cancer research center as a donation. Bam sam thing no trendy middle man.

That's the point....the funds most often don't :(

Excellent point Sauve, nobody making minimum wage needs to be the sounding board form anyone who doesn't like what his/her boss is doing.

Also, gotta say, I really like your new avatar. But isn't that an endangered species and, as such, isn't that ALSO against the rules? :) :) :)

Peace,

Pierre

i hated them at first but thank goodness people are wearing them. it's a fad, but people who would never donate a cent to charity are buying these and supporting the cause.

I work in a bike shop as a mechanic.. and since this is a Lance Armstrong thing, we get close to 20 people a day coming into the shop specifically looking for these things. They are hard to get and we cant get them in fast enough.
And this has been going on since before the election.

Some of the schools in the area were actually offering kids extra credit for buying these wrist bands. We have tons of kids coming in every day looking for them. At one point a pre-teen girl walked into our store and before she said anything, one of my co-workers yelled "WE DONT HAVE ANY LIVE STRONG BRACELETS LEFT". Then she said "Oh OK" and walked back out.

At least its going to charity. Really this is a good case study for charities on how to run a successful donation campaign. Make it trendy.

When I saw Kerry wearing one of these in the campaign I got sort of a chuckle out of it. I'd say about 30% of my patients are wearing them. I was asked to wear one, but refused. My reason given of course was logical since I have to maintain clean hands doing what I do, plus I don't even wear a watch, being that I hate things being on my wrist. The main reason of course was I think the 'show of support' fads be they pink ribbons, or yellow bracelets is silly but it wasn't worth bringing up.

I've heard that those wrist bands cause cancer.

Just kidding.

who cares if it is a fad. I bought mine to support the LAF and to give money to cancer research.

it may mean nothing to some, but it means the world to me. I wear mine to honor my father who successfully fought throat cancer (not smoking-related) though it nearly killed him.

I wanted to do the same type of thing. I wanted to make a black one that said shut up or keep your fake movement to yourself. I thought it might also be a good subject for tshirthell.com to sell. it could say some thing along the lines of "I donated to cancer research (or nike actually) and all I got was this stupid bracelet." I am so sick of these things, a friend of my wears one, but his father has cancer, but I think he got it as a conversation piece rather then about the cause. I saw donate $, be humble, and be pround that you did that. No need to let everyone know that hey, I gave one whole dollar to fight cancer! I'm special! Everyone think that I am a caring person and cool at the same time!

(sorry about the rant)

never seen one

They're in short supply here. My friend was trying to get one, I asked him why not just donate the money to a cancer foundation and forget about it? He replies "Didn't you see the football yesterday? (He said it as if I was a lunatic because I hadn't, I have better things to do...) At least half the players were wearing them!" Tosser...

Go without a bottle of wine, or a couple of beers or bourbon or whatever you're into for a week and donate that money straight to the foundation. How many millions would the foundation make in a month?

and the program directors. No mention on the websites about administrative or production costs-

www.laf.org

www.wearyellow.com

I am leary about any nationally fund raising organization. The majority of the money raised goes to overhead; very little trickles down to those in actual need.

Think about all the money spent on the knock-offs and the other causes that have chosen a braclet of any color to represent their "cause de jour." Too much waste for me to get involved. Go with the grass roots fundraising - a dollar in the jar sort of thing, or give extra to your church.

These big organizations as close to a scam as you can get.

Better yet, check this out!

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...359EST0592.DTL

My 11 year old niece might be the enigma as she knows of Lance Armstrong and the purpose of the bracelets. She has a few of them and wears them all the time. *shrug*

This is exactly where this thread shoulg, and this is really what everyone should do, but maybe even go further. Skip a luxurt, donate to charity, not only cancer reserach, ubt your local food bank after skipping a meal, cancer reserach after a day not smoking (for those of you who smoke), or whatever. Use your imagination and have a social conscience.

Peace,

Pierre

I almost made a nasty ass post about how these bracelets are stupid last week, but stopped myself short of that. Although they are trendy, and some of the people I know of who wear them don't even know what they are about, it is hard to argue that they are bad because a lot of the money goes to cancer research. I would rather see a direct donation, but they are a better than nothing.

Now if we can just cut into the strata of people who buy $1000 shirts and $500 purses...

I don't need to wear my honor on my sleeve.... I donate time and money to various causes, but there isn't a need from me to have to "show everyone else that I'm doing good."

I'm wearing one because my father passed away a few months ago. Another victim of cancer.

I find it kind of stupid to wear something just because bunches of other people are. I much rather be an individual. Then just another face in the crowd.

I know a few people around here that are looking to get them cheap so they can sell them for a decent profit on eBay. And the proceeds weren't being donated towards anything.. However, the still have to be bought initially, so the money is being donated at the lowest level.

My experience with them is that they are more of a trendy thing to wear than an object to show represent the cause they stand for.

I personally am not one to flaunt where I put my money, and I think there are quite a few people that have no idea they represent what they do, and aren't instead just cool looking bracelets that upon wearing, come with coolness.

I'm not really sure I understand the problem with smokers knowingly wearing the bracelets.. They smoke, and they also want to donate towards cancer research.. What's the problem? If anything they may be donating to helping themselves down the road, if a cure is in fact found.. But still, I think donating is always a good practice, regardless of what one's personal habits/practices are.

I think all they mean is Do Not Resuscitate
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=1943588

:D

I suppose that at least every bracelet out there brought in some money...and even if it is money from an idiot...so be it. It furthers the cause.

Chalk up another who'd never heard of them before this thread. I asked a niece and she did know about them, and the cause. A nephew just said "huh?" What a relief. ;)