10 years ago today

Greetings from Austin…

After retiring from professional cycling most of you probably think that 7 is my favorite number, but today I am realizing how important the number 10 is as well. You see, a little over 10 years ago I was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and 10 years ago today, after a meeting with several close friends around the dinner table, the Lance Armstrong Foundation was officially created.

When I recall the first board meeting in 1997 as we gathered in my agent and close friend Bill Stapleton’s office, who could have dared to imagine we’d be where we are today? The past ten years have definitely been a time of evolution to say the least. When we first started out our goal was to help those fighting testicular cancer. We thought we’d put on a good bike ride, donate a few thousand dollars to those doing research, and see where else we could help out. That evolved into a focus on the urologic cancers and then this amazing concept of cancer survivorship that has defined our work for so long. And now the evolution continues.

Before I tell you about this, let me assure you of one thing: while our goals may broaden, our commitment to the individuals literally in the fight of their lives has and will not! Our direct service programs like Survivorcare and our partnerships with the various Survivorship Centers, plus the excellent information and stories you find on livestrong.org will definitely continue, that I promise.

But here’s something truly significant and a challenge far greater than winning any bike race: I firmly believe that there is no greater thing than the opportunity to be involved in something that creates true social change. And so the Lance Armstrong Foundation – the “LIVESTRONG Foundation” as some are now calling it – will now work to change how this country fights cancer. Simply put, it is our desire and goal to be the leader in reforming the cancer system, and while the staff of the LAF and I are firmly committed to this goal, it’s going to take an army of millions and I want you to be a big part of it!

A transition in the focus of the Foundation is not the only change on the horizon this year. I’m very excited about the redesigned LIVESTRONG Challenge series soon to be unveiled, so much that I’ve already cleared my calendar so I can be at each one. We’re already hard at work on our policy platform so that come May when we head to Washington DC for our annual LIVESTRONG Day we have a clear-cut message that cannot be overlooked. Within our staff we’ve realigned and reassigned many of our great folks so that their skills are used to the best of their ability. And I have made the call to be more involved on a personal level as well as I take on the role of Chairman of the Board, something I have wanted to do for a long time. Through my blog I will keep you up to speed on what we are working on at the foundation, cancer news, action alerts and what progress we are making.

We’ve been fighting the good fight for the last 10 years and I firmly believe that we’ve made a difference, and I believe just as firmly that we still have a lot of work left to do. At our staff meeting yesterday we were very fortunate to have presidential candidate and former Senator John Edwards stop by. He had no hesitation in saying that the LAF has so much potential to make a difference through the work we do. And that complement is in no small part due to people like you who have banded together with us to make that difference. While the last decade has certainly been one to remember for the LAF it is truly only our beginning, and I look to 2007 and beyond with a renewed passion and a drive to succeed! Thanks for all you do.

LIVESTRONG!

- Lance