Lance Armstrong Cancer Bands
Bands on the runSara Bongiorni First came colored ribbon pins to support soldiers, breast cancer and AIDS, the latter famously lampooned on Seinfeld.
Ribbon-shaped bumper stickers followed and flourished, and still do.
Now look closely and you'll see flashes of color at the wrists of millions of Americans, including plenty of them here in Baton Rouge.
You can thank cyclist Lance Armstrong for the latest show-your-support trend. His foundation has sold 40 million yellow silicon bracelets to support cancer research, at $1 a pop. The message: LiveStrong, debossed into the flexible wristband.
The originals face steep competition these days. Among a small circle of friends we found bracelets promoting the Children's Miracle Network, Healing Place Church and the Louisiana Press Association. (Its message: "Govern in sunshine".)
Look farther afield and you find bracelets in every color, including tie-dye hues, with messages like "Beat Bullying," "Support Tsunami Relief," or simply "Believe." Expect inflation. We found plenty of bracelets selling for $4 each.
Some bracelets claim health powers. Titanrules.com sells "minus ion" bands that the company says warm hands and feet and aid recovery from sports fatigue. The wristbands are made in Japan of silicon, titanium, tourmaline and ceramic and cost $18 each.
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