Hi Trish and Sifu Caroline!
Thanks for posting your thoughts. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
First, I want to clarify that if you purchase a Livestrong bracelet directly from the Lance Armstrong Foundation website, all the proceeds DO go to the foundation - so that is definitely good. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> However, you have to purchase a minimum of 10 bracelets (for $10) if you purchase them there.
Here's the link:
http://www.laf-store.orgWhen I looked on eBay yesterday for the bracelets I saw MANY counterfeits. I called the Lance Armstrong Foundation and confirmed that they are counterfeits, with NO proceeds going to the cause. So Sifu Caroline is right about that.
Be especially wary of anything claiming to be "Livestrong style" and/or any bracelet that has the word "Livestrong" stamped on it but is not yellow. Real Livestrong bracelets only come in the color yellow. That color comes from the color of Lance's cycling jersey.
If you purchase an authentic bracelet somewhere other than the Foundation's website, then most likely $1.00 has already gone to the Foundation - but anything you're charged above $1.00 is probably profit retained by the reseller.
As for the prevalence of cancer - the answer is no, I don't know anyone who is NOT affected by cancer in their family or in their own life.
We lost my mother-in-law last year to a rare form of cancer and my second cousin to a more common cancer. I now have another cousin battling ovarian cancer.
I agree that this is a huge issue in our society. I wish we had a better understanding of the causes - especially breast cancer. I suspect there's something in our environment causing it, and it's very creepy that we don't know what that is.
If anyone has any further questions about the Livestrong bracelets, please let me know!
If there is enough interest, I could pretty easily purchase some in bulk from the Foundation and offer them for sale individually on my website at cost - so just the $1.00, retaining no profit - so that everyone knows their money went to the Foundation.
If anyone's interested, just let me know!
Chris