LIVESTRONG

Before it was a fad, LIVESTRONG only had a purpose--to raise money for The Lance Armstrong Foundation's fight against cancer.

In 2000, my mother-in-law relapsed with ovarian cancer. The day she told my wife, my wife told her we were pregnant with her first grandchild. That was in January. That spring, we traveled the 5 hours as often as we could to see her.

We saw her fight but deteriorate, including one visit where she appeared to be a walking corpse. Very difficult dealing with the pain, sorrow and guilt of her pending death while still trying to enjoy our pregnancy.

She died July 15, 2000. Our daughter was born in late September. I wish she would have gotten to see her granddaughter just once.

In 2003, my wife spent 8 weeks at school, an hour and a half away, leaving me home with our daughter. I took care of her when she was awake and worked whenever she slept. Sleep deprivation was a way of life. The Tour de France was my escape that summer--I allowed myself to veg out for that.

As a runner and sport fan, I knew who Lance Armstrong was but didn't really appreciate cycling because, most of the time, it is boring to watch. But this was the year that Armstrong cut through the field to avoid a crash and later bit the pavement due to a child's bag--the drama got me.

I read Lance's books and felt a connection because of his cancer. When the wrist bands first started showing up, I immediately got some. Have worn one since.

One of the first other people I saw wearing one was one of the owners of the company I work for. We talked just briefly about them--mostly how we got them because they were difficult to get at that point.

His mother died yesterday of ovarian cancer. Our company had a big party celebrating its' 10 year anniversary and he wasn't there. That seemed odd, when I asked someone, I heard about her. I never met her & never talked to him about her but it just tears me up inside.

Last weekend in Galena, one of the people from the other office made a comment about LIVESTRONG bands being a fad, which it definitely is partially. But the root purpose should not be forgotten.