Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Challenge: Sunday’s Event Drew 3,000 Winners

Most of the cycling world’s focus is on the Tour de France this week as it begins to wind down to the final stages.  Lance Armstrong, whose name has become synonymous with both the Tour de France and winning, was busy doing something else: The LiveStrong Challenge.

The LiveStrong Challenge is a 100 mile event that let’s participants bike, run, or walk courses of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty in an effort to raise money for Lance Armstrong’s anti-cancer foundation, LiveStrong.

Lance, after battling a tough fight with testicular cancer, came back to win numerous Tour de France titles, then promptly retired from competitive cycling to devote his time and efforts to helping to find a cure for cancer and inspiring those who have battled this disease to live a full, rich life.

The LiveStrong Challenge started back in 1996 and has spread out to other cities.  75% of all proceeds, from entrance fees to individual sponsorship programs, is given back to cancer research and to help those who have battled this disease.  Sunday’s event drew in 3,000 participants and raised nearly $1.5 million dollars to help in this cause.

The Tour de France is exciting, yet, what Lance Armstrong continues to do in the name of Cancer and Cancer Research could have far reaching effects in the future.  Already, the LiveStrong Challenge has spread to annual events in Portland, Austin, and Philadelphia, with others on the horizon.  Lance Armstrong has been the poster boy for cycling’s elite for years, but Lance assures us that this isn’t about him or cycling, but rather about those who need help and support while they take on the biggest challenge of their lives: cancer.  I don’t think anyone can complain or argue about that.

To read more about Sunday’s event, click over to the Mercury News, who offered up some pre and post-event coverage of Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Challenge.  To check up on the latest Tour de France news, be sure to check out The Adventure Blog, or the Tour de France blog who have both been doing some excellent coverage.

Sources:  Mercury News, Livestrong,  Photo by  Gary Reyes, Mercury News