Livestrong getting rid of wristbands
Armstrong’s non-profit looks to donate 100,000 of the yellow bands
AUSTIN, TEXAS— When Livestrong introduced its iconic yellow wristbands to the world in 2004, it pioneered a new way for non-profits and advocacy groups to educate people about their mission. The simple apparel item, catapulted into popularity by the group’s celebrity cyclist founder Lance Armstrong, could be seen everywhere.
And although they are less popular now — after the 2013 revelations of Armstrong’s doping in his unprecedented seven consecutive Tour de France victories — the nearly 90 million wristbands the group has distributed across the world are arguably still its most iconic symbol and one that remains a sign of hope and perseverance to many.
So why is Livestrong trying to throw out more than 100,000 of them?
The gap between the cancer nonprofit and its controversial founder grew a wider this week, as Livestrong tried to give away thousands of old wristbands in “out-of-date packaging” that include references to the group’s namesake founder and campaigns and websites championed by him.
At a city-organized recycling competition Tuesday, the non-profit said it could no longer use those wristbands and challenged entrepreneurs to take them and turn a financial loss for the group into something useful for the community.
The group said the wristbands could be used to create an art piece to raise awareness about cancer or as raw material for a playground in the community. The only requirements were that they be used for a healthrelated use and not be taken out of the packaging and resold.
Livestrong officials said the move to hand off the wristbands was about practicality and not the lingering spectre of its founder.
Livestrong President Greg Lee added, “That particular element didn’t have anything to weigh in on this, other than regardless of what the name was, it was something we can’t use in commercial business when we sell it outside the country, and so that’s why we made the change.”