Livestrong bracelets began healthy trend

Got a yellow Livestrong bracelet? How about a pink breast cancer bracelet, a red heart diseaseawareness bracelet or - if irony is your cause - a black "nihilism" bracelet?

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then the humble yellow rubber band Livestrong bracelet has been flattered up the wazoo. Who hasn't worn at least one out of the rainbow of silicone bracelets that have appeared in recent years?

Today is Livestrong Day - the annual fundraising event for the Lance Armstrong Foundation's mission to fund cancer research, care and facilities - and the color yellow will be in bloom across the country. The day will be marked by at least three local events, and the yellow-jerseyed one himself is making an appearance in Denver.

Armstrong started the foundation in 1997 after the cyclist survived testicular cancer on his way to seven consecutive Tour de France victories.

The foundation stumbled upon a great idea in 2004, when it rolled out the yellow bracelet that soon seemed to be hanging on every arm. Costing only a buck, the foundation sold 55 million bracelets in 2005, says www.livestrong.org.

"It is highly inspirational to patients who are experiencing the cancer journey - it gives them strength and hope," said Britta Newcomer, oncology resource manager for Memorial Health System and a dedicated Livestrong-bracelet wearer. "It also has brought attention to survivorship issues, because there are more and more people surviving cancer."

The bracelet was cheap. It made people feel good. It raised money for a good cause. And it became the trendiest fad to encircle wrists since "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelets.

But then came the flood of imposters.

"If something works, people are going to copy it. And it creates awareness for the need to find a cure," said Joel Quevillon, Colorado communications manager for the American Cancer Society.

"There's always the original, whether it's Coke, or Mustang is the original muscle car, or the Nike swoosh. People know the yellow Livestrong bracelet, and I don't think it will lose its purpose to create awareness."

Other charities got on the bandwagon and sold bracelets of their own (purple for domestic violence, white for global poverty). The American Cancer Society was one of those, Quevillon said, using purple and white bracelets for its Relay for Life.

"Ten years from now we probably won't see as many," Quevillon said. "But maybe by then they'll be tattooing people."

Opportunists stamped bracelets designed as accessories without a cause. Archie McPhee & Co.'s joke bracelets turned the Livestrong theme upside down with messages such as "depression," "apathy" and "nihilism."

"All those bright rubber bracelets are so darned positive and life affirming. Don't any of those trendy folks that wear them ever have a bad day?" asks the "bleak bracelets" sales pitch. "Wear one and you could be the tiny storm cloud in someone else's sunny day."

Even mean-spirited facsimiles appeared, such as The Onion's "cheat to win" bracelet.

Ouch.

Of course, most of the smarty-pants bracelets cost at least $2, proving that irony is twice as expensive as sincerity.

Even if the fashion trend is passé, symbols such as the bracelet are still useful for education, said Ada Torres, executive director of the Latino American Health Network, which is organizing a local Livestrong Day event.

"I think it helps, because people ask," she said. "And then you can teach them how important it is to monitor their own health and get screenings at the correct time.

"I always have something on me (usually pink ribbons) so people will ask. Plus, I'm not shy by any stretch of the imagination," Torres said.

But she admits she's not a yellow-bracelet wearer.

"I'll probably wear it on Tuesday," she said, laughing. "Does that make you happy?"

DETAILS

Local Livestrong Day events

Go Yellow Day at Memorial Health System
Where: Boulder Park, 1400 E. Boulder St.
When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today
Details: The event includes a yoga warm-up, walk, cancer-prevention tips, and goodie bag with Livestrong bracelet.
More info: To register call 444-2273, Option 3.
Cost: $5. Proceeds benefit Memorial's Circle of Hope Fund.

Para Nuestra Salud (For Our Health)
Where: Centro Cristiano Alpha y Omega, southwest corner of Chelton Road and Jet Wing Drive
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. today
Details: Learn about cancer, screenings, and where to go for low-cost exams. English materials and interpretation will be available for non-Spanish speakers
Cost: Free. Donations go to medical bills for an individual with cancer.
More info: Contact Ada at adamariatorres@hotmail.com

Livestrong Day fun ride and dinner
Where: Meet at New Santa Fe Regional Trail parking lot, just outside the south gate of the Air Force Academy on Academy Boulevard
When: 5:30 p.m. today for the ride; 7 p.m. for dinner at On the Border, 7695 N. Academy Blvd.
Details: A casual road ride Cost: $10, includes a yellow T-shirt; dinner at own expense
More info: Contact Jackie at jgrabbert@msn.com