2008 Woodie Awards
Cause Bands: Are They Just A Fad?
JOHANNA PRENTKI
Issue date: 4/21/05 Section: Features
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Cancer, Aids, Racism. These are just a few of the hot topic causes in our world today. Diseases take and harm millions of lives everyday and issues like racism cause hate and ignorance in people's lives. While these are all things people should be constantly aware of, has the hype gone to far?
Lately all around campus and everywhere you see people old and young sporting brightly colored wrist bands. All of this started with the yellow live strong bracelet created by Lance Armstrong. Armstrong has won the tour de France numerous amounts of times and had one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his lung s and brain. After he went through treatments and was nursed back to health he joined the race again and won. His positive message sparked the idea to raise money for cancer research and to show support for survivors, patients and everyone affected by this horrible disease. The brainchild of this spark was the brightly colored yellow bracelet with the words live strong inscribed on rubbery wrist band. All proceeds from this band go to the Lance Armstrong foundation which helps with cancer research and support. These bracelets sell for about $1 a piece and come in child and adult sizes.
The simple live strong bracelet idea has now boomed into several different causes having their own wrist bands and reasons for money donation. Different color bands can be found to support everything from breast cancer in pink, tsunami relief funds in blue to anti smoking bands in orange.
While all the money for the bands is going to amazing causes in hopes to make people aware of the issues in our society today. However since the bands have become so popular is it really to show support or has it evolved into a fashion statement? " Its such a fashion trend, I would be into wearing them if not everyone wore them." (Megan Perkins Bolton, NY ).
Stores such as American Eagle are now selling similar bands that have no purpose or actual meaning and have words like "slacker" and "trust me." This completely defeats the purpose that the original bands stood for.
Lately all around campus and everywhere you see people old and young sporting brightly colored wrist bands. All of this started with the yellow live strong bracelet created by Lance Armstrong. Armstrong has won the tour de France numerous amounts of times and had one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his lung s and brain. After he went through treatments and was nursed back to health he joined the race again and won. His positive message sparked the idea to raise money for cancer research and to show support for survivors, patients and everyone affected by this horrible disease. The brainchild of this spark was the brightly colored yellow bracelet with the words live strong inscribed on rubbery wrist band. All proceeds from this band go to the Lance Armstrong foundation which helps with cancer research and support. These bracelets sell for about $1 a piece and come in child and adult sizes.
The simple live strong bracelet idea has now boomed into several different causes having their own wrist bands and reasons for money donation. Different color bands can be found to support everything from breast cancer in pink, tsunami relief funds in blue to anti smoking bands in orange.
While all the money for the bands is going to amazing causes in hopes to make people aware of the issues in our society today. However since the bands have become so popular is it really to show support or has it evolved into a fashion statement? " Its such a fashion trend, I would be into wearing them if not everyone wore them." (Megan Perkins Bolton, NY ).
Stores such as American Eagle are now selling similar bands that have no purpose or actual meaning and have words like "slacker" and "trust me." This completely defeats the purpose that the original bands stood for.