Wednesday, September 10, 2008

It's Not About the Bike

As many of you have probably heard, Lance Armstrong is returning to professional cycling to compete in the 2009 Tour de France. I couldn't be more excited. Here is his videoblog on the LAF site http://livestrongblog.org/2008/09/09/statement-by-lance-armstrong-regarding-global-cancer-fight-and-his-return-to-professional-cycling/

For those that didn't know me when I was younger, I was pretty obsessed with Michael Jordan. I changed my number for basketball and lacrosse from my favorite number (11) to 23. In college, when other girls had pictures of hot models on their walls, I had MJ's posters plastered all over mine. I remember watching him play, and thinking that if I could be 1/10 as good as anything in life as Jordan was at basketball, I'd be sucessful. Fast forward to his retirement, return, retirement, stint with the Wizards as both a player and in the front office...

When an athlete returns to a sport after retiring, you usually cringe- our once proud heroes just can't let go & move on (sorry MJ). But Lance chose to come back not for the money, but to raise global awareness for cancer. What other athlete of his calibur has made a greater contribution to society?

When you are in a fight for your life, when you're facing impossible odds, all you want is to know that there is someone out there who knows what you're going through, and beat it. You need HOPE. It's not just that Lance beat cancer, but that moreseo that he has connected people who otherwise were going at it alone. Now that the yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands are no longer a fashion accessory, they now serve as the uniform of the community that LAF & Lance have created- the silent reminder between strangers that they are not alone in their fight. A single yellow band- connecting and inspiring others.

So we're excited to watch Lance over this next year. Maybe we'll have to go to Paris to see him take home his 8th Tours de France (or is Tour de Frances).

2 comments:

Kate @ richlymiddleclass said...

Hi there! You dont know me but i know your sister patrice. I have read your stories and am so unbelievably touched and inspired by the BOTH of you! I have and will continue to pray for your recovery and happiness. Just remember, life is what you make it, and you have and will continue to make it something outstanding!!! My father is a physician but also into martial arts and eastern ways of thinking. He has always taught me and i strongly believe that positivity has a strong role in recovery. Keep your head up, keep truckin and doing what you are doing, you will win! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Thank you for being you, for touching so many lives and for doing such amazing things for others who may not have had anywhere else to turn! Sincerely,
Kate Heidelberger

Unknown said...

Dan -
I know that it has been quite some time since I've seen you back in the burg. My sister passed your site on to me and I wanted to commend both you and your soon to be wife on your strength and tenacity in battling this horrible disease. Additionally you've taken your situation and made lemonade from lemons by fighting not just for yourself but everyone out there going through the same thing. You have been and will continue to be in my prayers.
Your site is incredible and I love the pics! Especially the one with Nicole Richie. If your travels ever bring you to Ohio please let me know, I'd love to catch up!

Adam Della-Croce