(no subject)
Living Strong or Looking Good?
A flash of yellow, pink or blue. Maybe all three, or a combination of two of them. What was that?
If you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of months, these plastic, elastic bracelets, also know as LiveStrong’s, are a fundraiser made up by the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Selling for just a dollar each, all profits go to the Foundation, which provides information and support for young cancer patients, survivors and their families.
When I first heard about the cause, I thought it was a great idea. It was better than other fundraisers, like when you contribute to the March of Dimes. Sure, you get your name up on a piece of paper that says you donated -- but you don’t get to keep it. Here it was, your donation and a gift. A keepsake, and reminder, that you made a difference in someone’s life.
But recently, it seems like these bracelets are more of a fashion statement than a reminder that you made a difference. Some people have bought them for as much as twenty dollars. And where does that money go to? Not a good cause. That money goes to the person that sold it.
So what is going to happen when these bracelets go out of style? Are these bracelets truly helping cancer research because it’s something that people all over the world are suddenly very passionate about? Or are these bracelets helping cancer research because these bracelets are the “cool” thing to wear.
I still like what the LiveStrong bracelets stand for. But the fact that they are more of a fashion statement, than a reminder that you helped someone disgusts me.