BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Fashion Jewelry Should you wear an awareness wrist band?

In my new article, Awareness Wristband Bracelets, I talk about some of the controversy over awareness wristbands. The main concern is that the proceeds from the sales of many of these bracelets are never donated to the causes the bracelets symbolize.

What's your opinion? Do you, or would you, wear an awareness bracelet? If so, would you only wear the official Livestrong bracelet, or are you open to wearing others?

Hi, Chris! I think the Livestrong bracelet is pretty cool! I've seen it on young men and women and children. It does bring attention to the cause and it is easily recognizable. After seeing them for awhile, I got up the nerve to ask a young man about his. He was a cyclist and explained how they raise funds. I was quite impressed but I have yet to buy any for myself or my family, though. Oprah had a show about the Livestrong bracelet and had a link on her website about getting one for $1. I did not know that the proceeds did not go to the causes.

I'm not sure I like the setup of the new forum. I always enjoyed seeing a list of new posts with the posters' names listed on the main page. Many times I go to active topics depending on who is talking at that time. I'm not necessarily going to a forum because of the topic posted by a certain person as much as who is commenting on it. I miss seeing the poster's opening comment without going to the post. I also miss the old graemlins and avatars and "rank" of posters. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Trish

Hi,

Your article is very timely as I was just listening to the news in my local area about these bracelets. I think they are a great idea and really do start emphasizing just how many people a disease like cancer affects. I mean, do you know of anyone who doesn't know someone suffering from cancer? That's an amazing statistic.

Unfortunately, I just saw on the news last night along with the information about these bracelets that some people are making counterfeit ones and selling them. Thus, none of the proceeds go to cancer research. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> This was very disheartening to learn about. I don't have any more info than what they provided in the news reel but they did indicate if you bought it from the Armstrong site and certain legit locations that the money did go to the Foundation directly. It was the counterfeiters only that caused the problem.

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.org

When 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

Trish, I also want to respond to your concerns about the new forum. I will also discuss them with the other editors. Perhaps there is a way to alter this new forum so that the poster information shows like it used to. I think I also preferred it that way.

The reason Lisa changed the forum software is that the forums have become so busy that the old forum software was about to break down permanently. It just couldn't handle the load. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> (OK Trish, you already knew that - LOL - but others who read the post may not.) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

This new forum system is much hardier, so once the initial bugs get worked out, it should work much smoother.

I'll check and see whether there's a possibility of customizing it a little more to our liking. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thanks so much for the suggestion! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

(How are things with you, anyway?) <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Chris

Hi, Chris! Thanks for the reply and for checking out my concerns (I'm glad I'm not alone) <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> My computers have been sick so I haven't been able to be around much. When I finally got things pretty much straightened out, I wasn't able to get on Bellaonline...said I was using the wrong password. Anyway, by the time I got back things were really changing. Yes, I noticed that things had really slowed down on the site so I guess it is good that this will be hardier. (giggle) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, we'll just have to get used to it. I missed my friends while both computers were sick. I hope all's well with you! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Trish

BTW, are you all settled in to your new house and have your studio the way you like it? Moving is so exhausting but organizing your work space is fun. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Trish

OT: Trish, I'm glad your computer's back up. It's so nice to be able to stay connected with things. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> We do finally feel settled in the new place, and my studio is finally functional. There are still little organization things that need to be worked out, but they're not too bad.

As for the forum issue, so far Rae has replied to say the new design freaks her out generally because it's too long and drawn out on the forum listing pages. Maybe it can be changed over time - I guess we'll see! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Take care and talk to ya later,

Chris

The Livestrong Bracelets are such a great success. Imagine those 40 million silicone wristbands all over the world!

We started and jumped into the bandwagon as well! My and a couple friends purchased 10,000 bracelets at Kulayful Rubber Silicone Bracelets for only $0.28 each, and sold them at $1 each. They were sold out in less than 2 months! We will be ordering another batch of 20,000 bracelets this time!

I like the whole awareness bracelets idea. It really has become a fashion accessory. Hard to say yet if it's a fad or a trend.

If you are wanting to make a contribution to an organization I think it's important to consider who you are buying from. If I buy from a street vendor the chances are less like that the funds are going to a well deserved cause where if I buy them at an official website or at my bank (they sell them for breast cancer in october) I know where they're going.

An benefit I support in the past is the Love Your Body Project -
http://www.love-your-body.org/
here are my bracelets:

I think they are working for half the people who are buying them and for the other half I think they are just another accessory. Obviously, the ones that actually raise money for charity have more of a benefit.

I would never buy or wear an "awareness" bracelet. The causes are often good ones, but the bracelets themselves are quite tacky-looking. (Honestly, they remind me of Crocs. They're like Crocs for the wrists.)

Also, I don't like the idea that a person needs to advertise what organizations/causes they've donated to. You could argue that this helps with promotion/awareness, but I would counter that many people who wear them are more interested in saying something about themselves (i.e., that they're generous, or informed, or moral, or trendy) than about raising awareness.

I would rather simply donate to a cause I believe in. If I then wanted to promote the cause, I'd buy a t-shirt, or (even better) volunteer my time.

awareness wristbands are great especially those who cant afford to donate. they can show their support just by wearing these bracelets.

I Wold definitely wear one if i knew the proceeds go to a cause...besides i do have a LiveStrong Bracelet....

This doubt is with every charities. When I give I of course hope at least a part will go where it's supposed to but I will never stop myself to give just in case nothing is given unless of course that I have the proof in front of me that this particular place is a fraud.