Why I Ride: An Open Letter
WHY I RIDE
About a year ago, during our LIVESTRONG Summit in Columbus, Ohio, I started thinking about returning to professional cycling. I knew I could compete at the highest level of racing but this time I was motivated from a different perspective.
Meeting so many people over the years…so many survivors…has built in me an ever greater sense of urgency addressing the hurdles in cancer control and, ultimately, telling survivors’ stories. The stories tell it all. The triumphs and challenges are all part of the LIVESTRONG community and the human narrative. That collective, grassroots movement built by all of you has been remarkably powerful for me personally and also powerful in moving cancer back into the consciousness of decision makers.
That energy is why I am riding again: to make cancer a global priority.
A GLOBAL SOCIAL MOVEMENT
Cancer will be the leading cause of death, globally, in 2010. This disease affects 28 million people worldwide. Its projected growth over the next 20 years statistically dwarfs other diseases. In many parts of the world, cancer is considered a death sentence. Survivors are labeled and cruelly stigmatized. With 30 to 40 percent of all cancers being preventable, a shared global strategy that combines prevention and innovation is essential. As LIVESTRONG and our partners continue to build a global social movement, it’s imperative that we tie the strands of all disease control together to be more effective.
We know the numbers. We know various ways to control this disease. We know how to better care for those suffering. We know where triggers exist. Simply put, we know a great deal. What is missing in this equation is a global focus supporting those who are suffering in silence, organizing community action and aggressively developing the most innovative research.
THE SUMMIT AND BEYOND
The purpose of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit is to draw the eyes of the world to the global cancer burden and also the challenges of stigmatization. Our Dublin Summit and global campaign will provide a platform for telling the stories and highlighting the outstanding work going on around the globe to alleviate the pain and suffering of cancer. Over the last six months, our LIVESTRONG team and I have met with various prime ministers, health and finance ministers, parliamentarians, cancer experts, NGO leaders, advocates and, of course, survivors to see how can we continue to push for fresh investments in cancer control. We have asked leaders all over the world to offer new “commitments” in making cancer a global priority. The response has been tremendous and this same cross-section of leaders – well-known and not so well-known – will all be collaborating in Dublin for two and half days of forward-thinking action.
We will see participation from all five continents, 62 countries, over 300 commitments and an anticipated 500 delegates, joining together in Dublin from August 24th-26th to make cancer a global priority. The growing global network of advocates spurred by this Summit has committed roughly $200 million in fresh investments, just as a start. Government commitments are estimated in the billions. While financial contributions are obviously important, other leaders will be using the Summit to announce significant policy shifts, advocacy campaigns or direct services to survivors. So, the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit is providing the license and platform in which to highlight great advances and collaboration on the next steps for action.
Some examples include:
Jordan:
$300 million for the King Hussein Institute for Biotechnology and Cancer, funding three cancer control initiatives, including creating an Office of Advocacy and Survivorship
Netherlands:
The Dutch Cancer Society will be introducing web-based clinical trials.
China:
The Chinese Anti-Cancer Association is planning to screen 530,000 women per year in 30 provinces
Brazil:
TUCCA (Brain Tumors Assoc. for Children and Adolescents), will be building the first pediatric hospice in Brazil
Australia:
$2 billion in the new Australian government budget for cancer control
LET’S CHANGE THE EQUATION
Building a social movement takes time, focus and ultimately an impassioned, consistent and active chorus of voices for change. LIVESTRONG has become a community for people from all over the world doing just that. While the Dublin Summit and continuing global campaign provide an occasion for elected leaders to tell their stories and exhibit truly innovative practices in combating this disease, it is also about individual advocates, multilateral organizations, NGO’s and community-based leadership all over the world working together. LIVESTRONG can only accomplish progress in partnership with others, collaborating across all sectors on prevention and innovative practices.
It’s so empowering to see individuals all over the world advancing this issue in the most creative ways. It’s also encouraging to see more leaders in power taking innovative steps. LIVESTRONG chooses to lead as a source for inspiration, knowledge and by offering the tools to build this newly emerging global social movement.
What a great reason to ride again.
Thanks for all you do.
- Posted in Inspiration, Taking Action
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93 Responses to “Why I Ride: An Open Letter”
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Thank you, Lance, for being yourself.
Hope to see you at Champs Elysees.
Vlada, Ukraine
Well done lance for making a great comeback in the tour, as an active cyclist on the comeback trail this year I know the difficulties you face,with the French authourities trying to stop you spreading the message of cancer by preventing you from riding, my mum died from lung cancer on new years eve 2005,it’s an evil illness we need more people like you, good luck in France!
Owen (Ireland )
I can’t still believe that I will meet My heroe. I have breast cáncer, I am on chemo, I’ve been brave but I have fears also. You’ve been My role model in this battle and I finally know that there is hope for those 28 million that need Help.
I feel blessed I could Help with such a wonderful mission.
See you in Dublin. Thanks for let me share this piece Of My life.
I appologize for my English. Despite frontiers and nationalities we speak the same language. HOPE
You Lance are great!
Lorena Rojas
Lance the world has to thank you and your livestrong team for the fight against cancer.
I want to help your foundation to my full extent how much or little that may be doesn’t matter as long as we don’t lose sight of the end result.
Again well done and thankyou, Im hopeful of seeing you on the streets of adelaide again next year.
With every Passing Mile, With every Stroke of the Pedal, With every Climb up the Mountain, You will Shower the World with Awareness. Your Strong Will , your Caring Heart, your Determination for what You Believe In Will be Heard. A Unity of Knowledge, and Giving will Form.
Thank You! for your Courage, Thank You for your Hope, Thank You! for your Strength. As you’ve once won the most difficult battle in your life, you continue to fight the battle for all. Linking One by One, Together We will All Fight the Battle of Cancer and Win.
Lance! You are truly an inspiration
Livestrong!
Michelle
Lance,
You have my respect and support. Good luck and hope you’ll have three awsome weeks to come.
All the best!
Thank you Lance! You have done more than we can imagine for the anti-cancer career. I know in China, a lot of people here are suffering cancer, because their poverty, especially in small cities like my hometown.
as a student in college though, I hope I can help.
You have my support, and good luck. Keep healthy, please.
[...] please read lance armstrong “why i ride” open letter. [...]
Your inspiration to the whole world is remarkable Lance. Your personal story together with your world class performance in sport has created a platform to change the mind of the world.
More power to you big man.
I’ll be supporting you all the way in the Tour starting this afternoon, and for the rest of my life.
Good luck
Love u lance!!
You are a true inspiration. My wife is donating a percentage of proceeds from her upcoming book about cancer survivors to your cause. Brother is riding in Pelotonia. Wife battling breast cancer recurrence. Keep on inspiring us and countless others.
A true Champion is a supportor of their Fellow athletes.
You ride for a team and I hear you say on the News that you will ride for whoever the team is supporting. Quite often in the past that was you.
In Life you have battled and won your share of races against Cancer and now you ride for others. You give vision to what will become the biggest epidemic the world has ever known if we don’t get off our hands and tell the Leaders we have had enough of the pollutants that have been produced that cause the increase in this Disease.
LIVESTRONG and ride hard, for you are the spirit of every cancer fighter you have touched and it is their strength to fight that will speed your pedals when you need it too.
Down Under is watching at 4.17pm Euro Time
New Zealand
Tony
Thank you. I followed you because we shared a passion for cycling. I thought it was cool that we both resided in Austin and both shared the gems of Walnut Creek and the hills of Mt. Bonnell. Now I follow your fight because my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer two days ago. Thanks lance. Ride hard today and when you return, the chips and salsa are on me.
Thanks for being who you are and doing what you do, look forward to seeing you in the Alps near le Thule and in Paris and hope your wearing yellow on both days!
Thank you, Lance. As a long lost 20 year ago cyclist I feel you are the USA ambassador. Your dreams and goal are all so wonderful and help everyone. My mother died a horrible death of cancer and one day I hope we find a cure. Way to go fellow Texan!!
Lance,
As a cancer survivor, and one whose family and friends have been touched by cancer, you have my utmost respect and support. Who better to lead the charge for change and awareness! Thank you for all that you do. My husband and I will be watching and cheering you on every day of the tour. It just wasn’t the same without you!!!
You’re a true champion. Your legacy will live on. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to a vital global cause, your inspiring perseverance in the face of great personal adversity and, above all, your passion for life and the exhilarating sport of cycling. Bon courage, Lance! Frank @tourdefrank in Toronto, Canada.
you’re an inspiration and i’ve not said that before. until i read your twitter i thought you were arrogant and daft.
have one pedal push from me on the ventoux
d
Hello Lance,
It is so great to see your comeback. You make the Tour de France so much more exciting.
Besides that you are a fantastic athlete, I admire your spirit and strength to face this amazing challenge AGAIN.
Be the best you can be!!!
Many greetings from Toronto,
Karin
Thank you for the wake up call. You have given me more than you will ever know. Your story has touched me and awoken my spirit. You are true inspiration. GO LANCE!!!!!!!!!
LANCE ES EL MEJOR DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS, EN LA BICICLETA Y EN LA CAUSA DEL CANCER TAMBIEN, EN PUERTO RICO USA ERES EL REY…
Hey Lance,
I grew up knowing nothing in Cycling except that Lance Armstrong was going to cross the finish line first. Since before I could understand, or even talk, I grew up cheering for the yellow and for Postal.
And now, even with a different team, and a different cause, I still know you’ll fight ’til the finish, win or lose.
You’re doing a great thing with LIVESTRONG, keep it up.
Good Luck, and Best Wishes,
Caden
Way to go Lance, indeed a great moment to see you in the Tour-09 and not just there, leading in the front as u ever do…..You have been the force within to get up and ask people to get going ..on their own and not wait for things to happen………Make things happen……Just the right decision,Not to participate but Win the tour this year. All the best and lets see Yelloe gellow up their in Paris on 26th, a place where he belongs..All the best………….
Like other cancer survivors, I will be with you all the way to every finish line. Hope you can feel our energy each day as we support your amazing efforts. All the Best Lance!
Lance,
Go Lance Go… and show the world, that you should never give up. I admire your dedication to the sport and to your foundation, doing whatever it takes to bring your message front and center. You are an inspiration to us all. Would I like to see you win your 8th, ABSOLUTELY, but if not, it is wonderful to see you inspire the other riders to be their best, to be professionals and to represent the sport as true Champions, no matter where they Rank. Thank you
Lance,
Your books and foundation was grounding to my brothers and I when our mom was diagnosied with NHL 5 years ago, now with her in remission, our dad has just been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The first thing we did was get our our Livestrong stuff. You are an inspiration and give us hope!!!! We are watching you and the Astana team everyday live at5:30am from from San Diego, ride strong and proud, our hearts are full of hope.
Kelli
From one cancer survivor to another………THANK YOU! I’ll be watching and rooting for you during the Tour. You and your story are an inspiration to us all.
Dear Lance,
Cancer is very strong, we got be stronger to FIGHT and DEFEAT cancer. I welcome your campaign to unite people and launch “Global FIGHT Against Cancer”. In India, we have united 29 Cancer Support Groups, formed ‘Cancer Care India’, the apex body, and launched the FIGHT since May 26, 2003.
You are STRONG, we wiil make you stronger to FIGHT and DEFEAT cancer. Looking forward to meet you at “Dublin Summit”.
Parimal Ghosh, (Survivor for last 13 yrs),
Founder General Secretary,
Cancer Care India,
D-2/2430, Vasant Kunj,
New Delhi-110070.
Tele:+91 11 26899707.
Great show today 3e at the 3e day.
inspiration to al poeple that are struggeling al long the way.peace and blesses to all .
Lance – cant wait to see you in Athens!
Last year for Livestrong Day I organized a fundraising event called “Reuniting for a Reason”. Stella, my band that had been broken up for over two years, played a show and informed people about your foundation. I gathered names for potential recruits because Athens needs an Army. Hopefully I will have them in shape by the time you come through.
thank you for your positive outlook and ability to share what you have learned with survivors and their friends and families. you are truly a blessing in our lives.
laura nadeau
Lance: Wheel up to Cavendish and tell him there’s something wrong with your bike – the chain is missing!…and then pass him by in the mountains, my brohtha’!Hincapie will smile too…
NO CHAIN – NO CHAIN!
You are the best sports/human story I have ever been blessed to witness in my life. I ride on my mountain bike up the big hills of Seattle thinking of things you said in your book: ‘It’s Not About the Bike’. And when I want to motivate myself or a riding companion, I yell No Chain!
Thank you – beyond words!
I am your number one fan from South Africa I hope that you will come and ride in our country some time .You are truly inspirational and amazing.
I hope that you win the Tour De France again this year just to shut those pesky French up once and for all.The way that they have treated you over the years is a disgrace considering that you truly put their race on the map in a spectacular way.They are quite ungrateful so the best way to show them is to win Go Mr Armstrong
i am from germany and i like to see you riding again!i wish you all the best and that you will win the tour for the eight time!!!greetings from germany marco
Lance, I am constantly impressed with the things you do both in cycling and with LAF. You are the ultimate athlete and role model. My son asked me what cancer is, and can survive. I told him about you and you story.You now have a 8 year old fan that now knows there is nothing he can’t do if he puts his heart into it. Ride on, see you in Paris for number 8!!
Lance, Thank you so much for making FIGHT to beat cancer a global issue. My family has put together a team for the San Jose Livestrong Challenge. 15 of us will be walking or running and one of us will be doing the 100 mile bike ride; his dad is going through cancer treatment for renal cell carcinoma. My brother had testicular cancer in 1977. The drugs that were used on you were tested on my brother. He lived 22 years then died of lung cancer. My sister has had breast cancer twice, and is a survivor. I lost a dear friend to breast cancer, the list goes on and on. We will continue to fight along side you until we win the race. Thank you and God Bless you
Hé. I’m from the Netherlands, I follow the Tour every day on tv. I think you have the best reason to ride again. A girl from my school, lives in the same village as I do, has cancer for the third time. She is seventeen, a very sad story.
I hope you win the Tour, for the eight time. That would be just a wonderfull prestation, but you’re the one who’s deserving it.
God’s bless with the following weeks and with your Cancer foundation!
Lance
You’re my hero.
We have a few cancer cases in my family and I may be next. I’ll support your LAF!
greetings fom a big fan.
Bruno
Lance, all the best for the next stages in the tour, it’s an inspiration watching you ride!! The TDF is not the same without you. What you bring to the TDF with everything you do is what we need in this world. well done so far and holding thumbs for the yellow!! God Bless!!!
Lance, thank you for coming back and doing everything. I am 19 years old and have an obsession of riding bikes. I am currently injured and just dream of rideing every chance I have. I think untill someone has a major event in their life, it is just taken for granted. I cant even tink about the event being cancer. Please keep ridin, and I will do the same. Together we can help make the dreams come true.
Live Strong, Brian Lichtle
Dear Lance,
I’ve been watching the Tour from my hospital bed (I was admitted with an infection due to my low immunity). I’m undergoing four months of chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. Your story inspires me deeply. I’m 35, an ex-rock climber, I eat/live well (I’ll eat/live even better now), but my mother had breast cancer and I likely inherited a form of the disease.
I do feel hope for my future and it not being a short one. I watch you riding the Tour, and your drive to educate people about cancer as well as achieve a personal goal makes me reflect on my goals and what I want to achieve post cancer therapy.
I hope you win your eighth Le Tour de France.
Josepha.
Lance,
I have friends and family who have cancer and are still surviving and some I know have succumbed. You are a true inspiration in your perseverance. I have watched you during the Tour coverage and there could not be a better ambassador out there in the fight against cancer. I particularly admire that you take the long view in your answers to questions. Keep on keeping on! You are doing a great thing!
Gibran
Lance, I follow one of your adages:
PAIN IS TEMPORARY, VICTORY IS FOREVER.
You have been an inspiration throughout my running and everytime I feel I am going through a low phase in my career / exercise / sports – I always remind myself this:
Remember LANCE – he endured and conquered PAIN and is not a QUITTER. So you should NOT QUIT. GET UP AND GIVE YOUR BEST SHOT.
Thanks for the inspiration, LANCE.
-Navneet
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