tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post5234074560186132423..comments2023-10-26T04:46:32.082-05:00Comments on Women with Cancer: Because of Lance Armstrong, and the foundation he started...Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311014636548513060noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-51289907195614864112010-09-14T19:57:34.470-05:002010-09-14T19:57:34.470-05:00Brenda and Jody,
Let's do this!Brenda and Jody,<br /><br />Let's do this!The Novice Garage Woodworkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10459080196618740678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-91201713327776869632010-09-14T18:52:14.455-05:002010-09-14T18:52:14.455-05:00Brenda,
That's was exactly why we wrote the p...Brenda,<br /><br />That's was exactly why we wrote the piece -- so those who do equate allegations about Lance with the foundation. Allegations are one topic; the work of the foundation, that he started from the first employee to the 86-person team it is now -- the other.<br /><br />Let's email tomorrow first thing about how to approach this for a video release. We need to talk, anyway. I think you are on to an awesome idea.Jodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311014636548513060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-26408448070660096962010-09-14T18:04:14.984-05:002010-09-14T18:04:14.984-05:00Jody,
Your & Erik's post have stimulated t...Jody,<br />Your & Erik's post have stimulated thoughts on many levels. I, too, am heartsick at this witch hunt. We humans are a strange breed: We love to tear down that we have built, and for what? The lure of tabloid headlines, jealousy, bringing our heroes down to "our level" to ease our guilt about the sins we may or may not have committed, or perhaps it's someone's twisted way of getting their 15 minutes of fame. <br /><br />What worries me is not whether Lance Armstrong is guilty of doping or not, but that this same topple the leader mentality may urge millions of Armstrong supporters to throw the baby out with the bathwater. <br /><br />Lance Armstrong is more than just the bike! He survived a rare and deadly Stage IV cancer. That in itself is inspiration whether he was a public figure or not. Those of us who are cancer survivors and members of cancer families must stand with him and this life-changing movement he has created. The Armstrong Foundation is more than a movement, it is a frame of mind, empowerment, information and hope.<br /><br />You and Erik have inspired me to take action! I reach a different group of readers than you do, Jody, and want to do a supportive Vlog, a video blog for an ASAP release. As you know, I'm in Boerne & can be in Austin in a heartbeat. Who would you and/or Erik suggest I approach about doing a "big picture" vlog? As a longtime journalist, I have honored every source, report accurately and have gotten 100% behind every story I've ever done.<br /><br />FYI, I have 2 upcoming live San Antonio television appearances, one next week, and one in October. If desired, I would be happy to deliver the Armstrong message. Please talk to Erik & let me know about the Vlog & my appearances.<br /><br />Yours in the fight,<br />BrendaBreastCancerSisterhood.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17954964330418898117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-39709330616077054302010-09-14T17:05:18.324-05:002010-09-14T17:05:18.324-05:00Dear Jody,
What Lance has done for the cancer com...Dear Jody, <br />What Lance has done for the cancer community is not up for debate. No one would ever dare deny his endeavour. <br />My point was that, as human, he can be the most dedicated person in the fight against cancer and yet have cheated in his professional career. I'm not saying he has and I'd rather think he hasn't. <br />He is a great orator (I was at the summit) and his cancer story has inspired me more than some people would know. In fact, I only started to volunteer within the cancer community because I started following him on Twitter before the Tour last year. <br />I thought I'd just follow a famous cyclist... and I ended up with a good few dozens of Livestrong army leaders teaching me a thing or two about cancer, survivorship and friendship.<br />All that I can say is: May the truth prevail and may we all remain supportive of the best cause there is.<br />Lovechari olmedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08162840792196541632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-41618040966812249802010-09-14T17:02:39.148-05:002010-09-14T17:02:39.148-05:00Dear Jody,
I know we agree on many things, inclu...Dear Jody, <br /><br />I know we agree on many things, including this and I also know your take on the subject in this blog. I´m happy to see your blog reads because of Lance Armstrong and the Foundation he started :-)<br /><br />And I do feel that this legacy has a merit on its own and its good to stress that, just wanted to express my feelings about forgetting the impact of the man leaving this legacy. Not thinking he's a saint just think that the ordeal he and all of you went through taught him to fight and that is why he's an amazing athlete on top of an amazing cancer advocate. As always happy and proud to be calling you my friend. You inspire me every day again. Love, AnnemiekeAnnemiekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13576768064981104863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-21473054047410128692010-09-14T15:57:55.180-05:002010-09-14T15:57:55.180-05:00Annemiekeh
I think your points are great. We'...Annemiekeh<br /><br />I think your points are great. We've talked about how we both read "It's Not About the Bike" at critical points in our lives. <br /><br />And I've also seen Lance quoted as saying that fighting cancer is the coolest thing he's ever done. I don't think in any way we left his efforts out to dry; the intent was to let some of that extraordinary legacy stand on its own.<br /><br />But as always, you know how much I value your perspective, loyalty,, and feedback. To have you as a friend -- or a fan -- is an awesome, awesome thing,<br /><br />Love,<br />JodyJodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311014636548513060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-82966969547150007682010-09-14T15:52:06.361-05:002010-09-14T15:52:06.361-05:00Chari,
Altho I disagree with some of your thought...Chari,<br /><br />Altho I disagree with some of your thoughts about Lance -- what he has done for cancer is extraordinary. I don't sanctify him. Anyone who has seen competitive athletes at any level know how driven they are. That same drive is what made Livestrong, and that'w why I wrote this with Erik.<br /><br />There's also another story I didn't have time no space to include. I heard this at a planning committee I'm on from a nurse. She is a soft-spoken and thoughtful woman who was at MD Anderson when Lance happened to be there for a visit. He didn't do the obvious: which was to go in through a pack of reporters and photographers. He took the back stairs so he could get up on the floor and visit with some pediatric patients.<br /><br />Truly appreciate your thoughts. Theirs a wide range on this issue and I'm glad you wrote, and I'm glad to be standing up to cancer with you.<br /><br />Love,<br />JodyJodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311014636548513060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-66637570916130163272010-09-14T15:48:04.177-05:002010-09-14T15:48:04.177-05:00Dear Jody and Erik,
What an amazing blog, outlini...Dear Jody and Erik,<br /><br />What an amazing blog, outlining so well what an amazing job LIVESTRONG/ Lance Armstrong Foundation does. The reason I add the Lance Armstrong Foundation is that in all of it I miss the Lance Arnmstrong aspect. I understand the article is mend to show LIVESTRONG is more than Lance and that is right. But that is the way I would like to put it. LIVESTRONG is more than Lance Armstrong, not bigger than. As the people at the LAF often point out, LiveSTRONG is all of us. But I was very happy to see the addition that Jody made about Lance and his essential role in LIVESTRONG and the comment that Marie made in which she stated it was Lance’s his charismatic personality that made a very big impression on her and his statement about the obligation of the cured hit home. And how the "Lance effect" is a powerful motivation for many who look to him for inspiration. This is what I tried ot explain in my own blog: how his example kept me on my feet and got me back on the bike. <br />The addition of the quote by Dr. John Seffrin who said that it was Armstrong's "star power," which made a success of the global initiative. "I refer to [Armstrong] as the personification of the hopeful side of cancer," Seffrin said "What he's doing is much bigger than most people realize."<br /><br />If I were Lance I would feel a bit left alone or hung out to dry if I created an amazing movement, worked my a... off to raise funds and awareness and than by a sign of trouble people try to put distance between me (Lance) and my lives work. By stating LIVESTRONG is bigger than Armstrong you might lead people to think you believe the guy is a cheat but hey, his Foundation is great. I would have love to have seen a bit of "we got your back as you got ours" as well.<br /><br />Please believe me if I say I get your point and you have outlined the beautiful work the Foundation does and I do think the most important thing here is we keep fighting the good fight, but these are my reservations. Still a huge LIVESTRONG believer and fighter, will always be a LIVESTRONG Leader.<br /><br />Thanks for your great work, AnnemiekeAnnemiekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13576768064981104863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-82408896202960304542010-09-14T14:48:22.443-05:002010-09-14T14:48:22.443-05:00Dear Jody and Erik,
I've been saying all alon...Dear Jody and Erik, <br />I've been saying all along I find Livestrong and Lance Armstrong the sportsman ,the cyclist, two separate entities. I have to. It's the only sensible thing to do but not now that he seems to be in the eye of the hurricane... I always saw it that way.<br />That Livestrong will have to suffer horrific consequences if the allegations are proven right is, unfortunately, a byproduct of the 'santificaton' so many people insisted on making of the man: a temperamental, competition driven man... a man as flawed as you or me. <br />By claiming that Livestrong and himself are the same thing, Lance is not doing his wonderful non-profit any favours. <br />The British cyclist David Millar comes to my mind whenever Lance says, time and again, he is probably the most tested athlete in the planet and he has never failed a test. Neither did Millar... yet he got busted.<br />I'm hoping for Livestrong's sake Lance isn't lying or, if he is, I hope he doesn't get caught.<br />It would be the biggest catastrophy imaginable for the non-profit and terribly costly to the fight against cancer. <br />I wear my yellow band with pride and I will continue to do so regardless of the outcome for Lance's cycling career. <br />Love to you bothchari olmedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08162840792196541632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-34911130271550843592010-09-14T10:15:23.464-05:002010-09-14T10:15:23.464-05:00And to you, too, Marie!
We both shared those goos...And to you, too, Marie!<br /><br />We both shared those goosebumps on the phrase " the obligation of the cured." You take your obligation seriously as do I.<br /><br />That's why Erik and I put this piece together. <br /><br />And I love the quote you included:<br />"I refer to [Armstrong] as the personification of the hopeful side of cancer," Seffrin said "What he's doing is much bigger than most people realize."<br /><br />Thank you so much for your thoughts,<br /><br />Love,<br />JodyJodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311014636548513060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-67737564467776123892010-09-14T10:07:19.720-05:002010-09-14T10:07:19.720-05:00Wow! A powerful thought-provoking post for sure. M...Wow! A powerful thought-provoking post for sure. Many thoughts rushing through my head as I read this so forgive me if I ramble on too much!<br /><br />I attended the LiveSTRONG global summit in Dublin last year and as I listened to Lance Armstrong speak of the “the obligation of the cured” – the idea that those who survive cancer should help others do the same, I felt goosebumps. Here was someone putting into words what has been motivating me for the past 5 years since my own cancer diagnosis. <br /><br />The summit in Dublin was an awe-inspiring occassion - I have never been to anything quite like it - the atmosphere was electric and this was in no small part due to the charismatic presence of Lance himself. I have no doubt having witnessed it myself that the words of American Cancer Society CEO Dr. John Seffrin who said that it was Armstrong's "star power," which made a success of the global inititiave. "I refer to [Armstrong] as the personification of the hopeful side of cancer," Seffrin said "What he's doing is much bigger than most people realize."<br /><br />Having said that I am well aware of the controversary surrounding the man and that for as much as he is revered and admired in many quarters, he is equally resented and villified in others. <br /><br />But there is no denying the "Lance effect" is a powerful motivation for many who look to him for inspiration. <br /><br />The task that now lies ahead for LAF is to keep its message from being drowned out in the ongoing Armstrong controversary. Doug Ullman is confident that it can and I am inclined to believe him when he stated that The Livestrong brand and the organization, as intimately as they are tied to Lance, have a life of their own"<br /><br />LiveStrong everyone!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315151022752951218.post-266102795735715752010-09-14T09:36:21.501-05:002010-09-14T09:36:21.501-05:00Additional thoughts:
As you can imagine, this art...Additional thoughts:<br /><br />As you can imagine, this article went through many drafts and upheavals before I hit "publish" today. <br /><br />Yet a message from a friend leads me to say what may not be apparent.<br /><br />As a cancer survivor my gratitude and debt to Lance Armstrong is enormous. He is the force, the energy and impetus to making LiveStrong happen.<br /><br />The important thing for all of us to me -- is that we stay united in fighting cancer.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to hearing from you.<br /><br />How do YOU LiveStrong?Jodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311014636548513060noreply@blogger.com