100% committed to LIVESTRONG and the wonderful staff. Until there’s no more cancer, I will continue to support you, since you were the first to make it ok to openly talk about cancer and all the difficulties involved with a diagnosis. Your leadership regarding aya is inspiring and your programs & services are much needed. Thank you for all you’re doing for us every single day. LIVESTRONG

It’s awful that Lance Armstrong is no longer on the board. Its amazing how people choose what believe and when. I still believe in Lance Armstrong. I dont care if he did use performance enhancing supplements, So what. He didnt set out to hurt anyones feelings and everybody is taking it so personally. Get over it. Maybe I feel that way because I have watched so many family members die from cancer and you really figure out whats important. Lance’s use of performance enhancers is just not important in the grand scheme of life. He pushed himself to the limit and came out on the other side. I am not disappointed in Lance. Should he have lied no, but whose to say that he is not lying now because its what everyone wants to hear and to save himself in the long run.

If he cheated or not it is irrelevant, he still managed to inspire a lot of people including me. So good for you for continuing with what he started and helping your fellow man overcome one of the toughest challenges in life.

Im with you also Greg!!!

“…what we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal…” Albert Pine…..THat tittle no one can take from Lance, and thats why he was, is and will always be a HERO!!!….

God did not create us perfect and flawless, you are stil to be admired Lance!!

Agreed. People love to see a giant fall, which is sad. Lance did more for people than most could ever dream of. Was he wrong? Yes. Should we forgive him? Absolutely.

No negative comments are allowed here, just as one sided as the races he was in. Shouldn’t really be surprised though.

Greg, I’m right there with you! I still believe he is hero for the same reasons you stated in your response! I feel that he is being “put on the block” and taking the brundt of things that many others were doing as well! Should he have been “doping”? Of course not……but he shouldn’t be condemned and demonized, as he has and is being now! He has apologized and taken responsibility, regardless of how long that may have taken. Everyone has this “holier than thou” attitude, as if we are all so perfect and have never made bad decision or mistakes. I think we need to stop being so critical, since none of us has walked in his shoes! It appears to me that this challenging time has made him a better person….good for him, and his kids!

Waw, what a western way to look at it…

This message will not be posted, I’m quite certain.

Amstrong came across last night to anyone not predisposed to make excuses for him as a sociopath who lied without conscience and destroyed lives without mercy. Livestrong exists by one degree of separation from a sociopath. I’m not sure what that means in terms of the cancer services it supports but I’d advise Livestrong to transfer its assets and goodwill to another cancer support agency and to move on….the connection between founder and foundation is too strong and too toxic, despite what Livestrong would have us believe.

I, for one, still support Livestrong AND Lance Armstrong. He still won 7 Tours in a level playing field. He is still a world class cyclist and a hero. Love ya, Lance!!

I’m with you too Greg – 100%

lance is still my hero.., !!!

First, let me begin by stating my 100% support for those who have, and had been, afflicted with cancer. Both of my parents died from cancer, lymphoma and prostate respectively. I know how devastating and complex this is for all involved. But this is not about cancer, nor is it about cheating in cycling races. I could care less that he cheated to “level the playing field.” I don’t even care that he lied, because I can see how a good person can make bad decisions. The real issue that is so troubling is that he used his moral high ground position through Livestrong and as a perceived defender of mercy and hope, and used both his own as well as your fight against cancer as an impenetrable shield of virtue to destroy the lives of people he knew told the truth (people who were under duress from authorities) simply to win (not just win races, but to win over everyone else in life). This goes far beyond lying or cheating. This is NOT a good person making bad decisions. This is ruthless, calculating, sadistic, self indulgent, greedy, and hateful behavior. That’s what this is about.

It’s too bad that you are so incredibly bitter Maija. I mean that with all sincerity. My doctors were very clear – that they could all they could for me but a positive attitude meant a TON. Sure advancements in treatment are also important and true, people with great attitudes also die but if you think a willingness to fight and have a stong attitude is not critical, I feel sorry that you’d live life that way. I am being ‘polite’ when I say that your comments actually disgust me as a cancer survivor who did everything I could to fight and remain positive. truthfully, there is not much reason I should be here and doctors have validated that. I hope you find a shred of peace in your life.

AGREED

I believe one of my favorite quotes applies here:
“Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As of right now, having read some of you (mostly negative) comments, I think you should be banned from the livestrong forums.

Specifically you are a fool to speak as you have about lance armstrong and his “fighting rhetoric.” You have no call in making such statements in this forum. As others suggested in the same discussion, you must actually study the subject matter before being so unreasonably opinionated in such a public forum — this is a potentially harmful.

I hope you reconsider and educate yourself. Until then your opinions will be worthless to me and potentially VERY harmful/hurtful to others fighting through their cancer.

Just because a sociopath causes others to do good, does not stop him form being a soicopath. Talk to his vicitims. Imagine being his son,

I have to strongly disagree with you. It is most certainly a fight every day when you are so sick you can’t hold your head up, or so painful that you feel like your feet and legs are going through a meat grinder but you get up anyway, and everyday you continue to get up because you have a sixteen year old son to live for. Yes, it is a fight, every treatment is a fight against the pain and the fear of the pain versus dying. it is apparent to me that you’ve never fought this particular enemy and I pray you never have to.

If cancer didn’t take him out then Lance will survive he’s demons too!
As the saying goes ” build a bridge”

Like many others, I’m torn. When diagnosed with lung cancer last year, I initially considered it a death sentence. Today, 9 months later I’m cancer free and looking forward to a fantastic rest-of-my-life. Livestrong was a big part of that – they were there immediately with support, with resources and, most importantly the concept that “you can fight this thing and you can win – look at the people who’ve done it before you”.

I once considered Lance to be a larger than life hero. After Oprah, I was sickened by the ego driven, pathological liar who would stop at nothing to win whatever battle he thought he was fighting. I have my yellow wristband sitting on my desk at home. I almost threw it out but the Livestrong organization deserves better. The bottom line is I beat cancer; I think I can deal with Lance’s downfall without too much difficulty. And Livestrong appears more than ready and willing to move forward without him.

I don’t have a major problem with Lance seeking an edge – everybody in cycling who is competitive probably has done it at one time or another.

But I do have a sincere problem with all of the lawsuits against people and lives he’s ruined. He could have gotten away with the lie forever without attacking people in such a vindictive manner, but he couldn’t do even that.

That being said, that shouldn’t detract from livestrong’s positive mission.

Can Lance no donated the money from the interview to Livestrong? Is all about doing something back to society and less about the money. At least Oprah and Lance should be open about the money streams of the interview that was broadcasted worldwide.

In beating cancer, there is never an implication that it makes anyone a morally better person. Lance is the poster child for the fact that even “bad” people beat cancer. I hope other organizations that are founded by “good” people are able to come to the fore-front. The yellow band represents a lie now. My dad recently beat cancer and with the help of his family he overcame in a big way. We thank God for where my dad is. Not an organization and not a cheating, lying, self promoting bully.

Maija – in my opinion, you miss the point. Take that day when someone is given a cancer diagnosis. What does it do to them – mentally, emotionally? Physically, you are right – there are no guarantees that a strong mental attitude will pull you through or help you survive longer. Though frankly, medical evidence would suggest that a good mental attitude can sometimes help. But that aside: What Lance did was show that dreams, goals, aspirations do not have to be put on hold because you’ve been given a diagnosis. He proved that people could live life with a cancer diagnosis – they didn’t have to just curl up and wait to see if they got better with chemo and the like. He made a stand for maintaining the quality of someone’s life – no holds barred – even after a cancer diagnosis. Surely that is something to applaud?

I stand with Livestrong. I am a cancer survivor and I appreciate all that you’ve done for myself and everyone else who has dealt or dealing with cancer and their loved ones. Much mahalo!

Cheers to you Becky! Great story. You sound like an incredibly strong woman and I wish you all the best!

I think you miss the point friend. Cancer is not a free pass allowing people to cheat and abuse the system. I’m not condoning cheating in sports. I’m condoning the attitude Lance had in the face of his cancer. Lance the Tour de France winner/cheater and Lance the Jerk are two different things. The latter is the one relevant to the cancer. It takes a stubborn ruthless attitude to face the challenges of cancer everyday. If there is a good time to be a little selfish in thinking about your own needs before that of others, it sure as hell is when fighting cancer.

LiveStrong was not built on the legacy of a Tour de France winner, it was built on that of a survivor. So the drugs and the cheating is irrelevant to me. I never aimed to be like Lance, but in some occasions, being a little bit like him in the personality side can be beneficial to one’s survival odds.

A lot of people on here are stupid for forgiving a man who lied to the world on multiple occasions. He’s a compulsive liar, and he will not be remembered as an athlete, but rather a liar. He obviously wasn’t thinking about YOUR feelings over the years with his lies, so why should YOU forgive him again?
Hmmmm……..

what lance has said and confessed does not change how i feel about livestrong whatsover! livestrong is a wonderful organization that helps so many and i will always give my support. as far as lance i think people will in time forgive him. he is taking an important and neccessary step in the healing process. i think there is a wonderful person there and he is struggling. personally i respect him even more for telling the truth. he will be a better person and father for it. we love you lance. linda bischopink. fan and livestrong supporter.

This is a great comment. I think it’s very wise and encapsulates so much of this sad situation. Pressing the nuclear button of renaming Livestrong may ultimately not be the best option or a necessary option — I personally hope it is not — but I do very much hope that its pros and cons are being seriously discussed by Livestrong’s leaders and appropriate experts. I suppose the ultimate question will come down to donors, goodwill, and money — and how damaging, neutral or even positive (which I suppose is possible, given increased awareness and any sympathy factor) Armstrong’s image connection turns out to be financially in the near future.
Unlike with Tiger Woods or other active athletes, I don’t know if one could reasonably forsee a rehabilitation of Armstrong’s brand, given that he’s no longer a top competitor in his sport and he doesn’t have any other established arena to excel in (such as acting, with Arnold S.).
Wronged people and disgruntled sponsors will likely have their hands out very quickly if Armstrong makes any bold move or generates any significant payday, which will probably be a complicating factor with the obligatory confessional book we should be seeing announced any time now. As there may be very few ways that Armstrong could successfully orchestrate an image comeback, and Livestrong’s hopes that any negative affects from his connection will diminish over time are anything but certain, rebranding the organization may be a painful necessary step for its long-term benefit.
If that dire step must be taken, I hope Livestrong’s leaders do so boldly and unapologetically–with distant support from Armstrong and the rational understanding of the people who still see him as a hero.

You know Greg.v he could not have made the foundation such a success nor could he have inspired so many had he not made the choices he did. He is who he is and for that I am grateful… I will forever LIVESTRONG in his name.

I don’t understand why all Lance’s sports gear sponsors dropped him so quickly (especially after all the money he made them). And after all isn’t that the lure of their gear to us amateur athletes… anything that would give us a little edge? He should now be the poster boy. It is the media and non athletes who have all the negativity towards sponsoring athletes they feel are less than honorably… and they are the ones who never bought a Trek bike or Nike cold weather gear. And they are the ones who will forget this whole event as soon as the next athlete or politician gets caught!

bonjour, pourrais je avoir une affiche de la fondation