LIVESTRONG!

Fantastico!

--ryan



LAF Fundraiser exceeds expectations

The yellow "Livestrong" wristbands created as a fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation have proven more successful than the organisation expected, with more than seven million sold already. The LAF expected to sell six million, but by the end of the Tour de France that figure had already been passed, with plans to sell 1.8 million more. The small yellow bands sell for 1 dollar (or 1 euro) and are available online at www.laf.org.

"It's been an overwhelming experience," foundation President Mitch Stoller told the Associated Press. "I think everybody, from average Americans to celebrities, are getting the message of courage and hope."

Armstrong's rivals had no problem supporting the fight against cancer, as many riders in the peloton during the Tour faithfully wore the wristbands.

"A lot of his competitors were wearing them," foundation spokesperson Michelle Milford said. "Cancer doesn't pick teams."

With roving salespeople present before, during and after the Tour stages, traffic naturally jumped during July. Over 25,000 wristbands were sold on the Tour's final day in Paris and another 400,000 were sold on the LAF website during the following three days.

All proceeds from the sales go to support programs for young people fighting cancer, which Armstrong himself overcame before winning the first of his six Tours de France in 1999.