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A circle of hope

A yellow wristband sold by the Lance Armstrong Foundation to support programs for cancer survivors has become a must-have fashion accent.

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE
Published July 19, 2004

	[Getty Images]
	Lance Armstrong, riding in the 10th stage of this year’s Tour de France, sports one of the “Live Strong” wristbands. More than 1.5-million wristbands have been sold from the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s Web site, wearyellow.com.

The most talked about fashion accessory this summer is a yellow plastic number seen dangling from the wrists of Serena Williams, Bruce Willis, Matt Damon, Sheryl Crow, Andre Agassi and most important, Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong.

The "Live Strong" wristband - the same bright yellow as the jersey worn by the leader of the Tour de France - is flying out of Foot Locker stores and selling briskly from the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Web site, wearyellow.com. Nike gave the foundation $1-million to make 5-million bracelets that are being sold for $1 each. The money is used to support the foundation's programs for cancer survivors.

The foundation has sold more than 1.5-million bracelets on its Web site, spokeswoman Michelle Milford says. And with the Tour de France under way, the sales are heating up to 80,000 wrist bands a day.

A large number are for sale on eBay, though Nike and the foundation have cautioned that the money spent there may not end up benefitting cancer survivors.

In 1996, it looked like Armstrong's career and his life would be cut short by testicular cancer, which had spread to his abdomen, lungs and brain. His recovery and comeback to win the grueling Tour de France five consecutive times have been an inspiration to cancer survivors.

"Yellow is the color of hope and perseverance and courage for all cancer survivors," Milford said. "It's Lance's favorite color for sure."

Sharon Kennedy Wynne can be reached at 727 893-8215 or wynne@sptimes.com

[Last modified July 16, 2004, 10:43:14]