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Empire State Building Goes Yellow for Lance & LIVESTRONG
Seven-time Tour de France champion and a testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong pushed Congress Wednesday to increase funding for early cancer detection and care.
Play Lance’s speech:
The visit marked annual LIVESTRONG day. It coincided with the introduction of the Cancer Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Act of 2007, which was sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. Harkin lost four of his five siblings to cancer.
“The disease is the number one killer in this country under the age of 85 - 600,000 Americans lose their lives to the disease and a full third of them never needed to die,” Armstrong said to more than 200 yellow-braceleted cancer survivors, who are part of Armstrong’s nationwide “LIVESTRONG” army.
The Livestrong members, who are also cancer survivors, spent the day meeting with lawmakers to stir up support for Harkin’s bill. Later Wednesday evening, the Empire State Building will be lit yellow to mark LIVESTRONG day.
Over the years, Harkin and Armstrong have forged a friendship over their common interests in biking and fighting cancer. And in good news for cyclists, Armstrong is going to participate in RAG-BRAI again — this time for the whole seven days.
“For years I was in D.C. working on this issue - and every year, I didn’t know what (Harkin) was talking about. He said, ‘You have to come to RAG-BRAI!’ The first couple of years I am like, ‘sure sure sure … whatever.’ RAG-BRAI is actually the biggest annual bike ride in this country. Last year we went and participated for three days and this year we’re going back for the full seven.”
Armstrong formed LIVESTRONG in 1997, a year after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that spread to his brain.
Wednesday’s event was one of more than 230 across the country held to push cancer awareness, Armstrong said.
Comments
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By Scott Joy
May 17, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this
It was an incredible, unforgettable honor to be a part of LIVESTRONG Day and to play a small role in helping to make cancer a national priority. I’m sick and tired of seeing cancer hurt my friends.
We can all unite behind this critical cause at http://www.livestrongarmy.org/