Seven-time Tour de France winner’s charity looks forward to new challenges post-cycling
According to a statement by seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, made as he announced his retirement, one of his big priorities in his post-cycling career will be to further the cause of his eponymous charity. The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), which trades as LiveStrong, was set up by the American after he survived testicular cancer and serves the cancer community and works to raise awareness of the issues faced by those affected by the disease.
“Today, I am announcing my retirement from professional cycling in order to devote myself full-time to my family, to the fight against cancer and to leading the foundation I established before I won my first Tour de France,” Armstrong said in a statement.
The Texan retuned to cycling in 2009, having been in retirement since his final Tour victory in July 2005, with the professed aim of raising cancer awareness around the World. While things have not gone completely to plan on the road, with him unable to take an eighth Tour victory, the awareness campaign has been declared a success.
“In 2009, I returned to professional cycling with the LiveStrong Global Cancer Campaign to raise awareness of the toll taken by this disease,” he said. “We've come a long way in two years, spurring new investments, strengthening partnerships with the cancer community and beginning to ease the stigma faced by millions of survivors. I'm humbled and grateful for the outpouring of support our campaign and our partners received. But we have a long way to go.
“Cancer is now the world's leading cause of death,” he added, “and for 28 million of us, survivorship is a daily fact of life.
"My focus now is raising my five children, promoting the mission of LiveStrong, and growing entrepreneurial ventures with our great corporate partners in the fight against cancer," he added.
Doug Ulman, President and CEO of LiveStrong, who has himself survived cancer three times, was quick to pay tribute to Armstrong as he retires and looked forward to the future with the foundation.
"We couldn't be more proud of what Lance and the LiveStrong Global Cancer Campaign have achieved," he said. "Lance gave the fight against cancer one of the biggest spotlights there is and thanks to his efforts, we've made great strides in raising awareness of the challenges faced by cancer survivors everywhere.
“Some day, five or ten years from now,” he continued, “the cancer community at large will reflect on 2009 and 2010 and realize that the progress we are witnessing around the world is a result of these efforts. We're fortunate to have Lance back full-time as a hands-on chairman for LiveStrong where he can help us capitalise on the great opportunities for progress that lie ahead."
Mark McKinnon, Vice Chairman, Public Strategies, Inc, who sits on the LAF board, also paid tribute to Armstrong and looked ahead to the former Tour winner having more time to devote to the charity.
"On behalf of the LiveStrong Board of Directors, I want to thank Lance for his unfailing devotion to our cause, for the great work he's done to spur global awareness of cancer and for his continuing commitment to 28 million survivors," he said. "Lance's return as a full-time leader for LiveStrong couldn't come at a better time. We have great opportunities and challenges ahead of us this year.”