Yesterday, Team RadioShack rode into Paris for the grand finale of the Tour de France for 28 million reasons. This isn’t the number of fans watching or their combined paycheck – it’s the number of people around the world living with cancer. The team rode custom-designed bikes by Trek and helmets by Giro that called attention to the cancer burden by featuring the cancer incidence rate of each rider’s home country. When accepting the Team Award every rider wore a special jersey by Nike with the symbolic number 28.
Throughout the 2010 cycling season, LIVESTRONG and its partners have been fiercely dedicated to raising awareness about the world’s cancer burden and the people fighting against the disease. With the help of LIVESTRONG partners RadioShack, Nike, Giro and Trek, Team RadioShack dedicated their season to the global cancer community with the goal of inspiring more people to take action in the fight against cancer.
“Throughout the Tour de France, Team RadioShack’s bikes have carried the names of people touched by cancer in order to honor them and the people who love them,” said Lance Armstrong, LIVESTRONG founder and chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist. “Today, we're riding for every one of the 28 million people all over the world whose lives and families are affected by this disease.”
Efforts during this year’s Tour de France were stronger than ever, and included:
- “I RIDE FOR LIVESTRONG”: The winners of “I RIDE FOR” had the names of their loved ones who’ve battled cancer on Team RadioShack bikes throughout the Tour.
- Nike “Chalkbot”: The Chalkbot allowed the public to honor a loved one, cheer for Lance, support LIVESTRONG or speak out about their own battle with cancer by delivering messages of hope and inspiration in yellow chalk along the race route.
- The LIVESTRONG Collection Goes Global: The LIVESTRONG collection expanded beyond the United States to Canada, France, and the United Kingdom to help LIVESTRONG further its mission and spread awareness.
- LIVESTRONG Wristbands: Proceeds of 130,000 LIVESTRONG wristbands sold throughout the Tour de France benefitted France’s La League contre le cancer and its work on behalf of cancer survivors
People everywhere will soon be able wear their support for the 28 million cancer survivors. Special 28 Jerseys will be available for purchase at bike shops across the U.S. the first week of August.
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