LIVESTRONG Challenge
LIVESTRONG Philly '09
As you may know, Jay participated in the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Philadelphia, PA on August 23, 2009 to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. In 2009 with 20,000 other walkers, runners and cyclists, the event raised over 10 million dollars and awareness to inspire and empower the nearly 12 million Americans living with cancer.
At age 25, Lance Armstrong was one of the world's best cyclists. He won the World Championships, the Tour Du Pont and multiple stages of the Tour de France and his future seemed bright. Then, he found out that he had cancer. A combination of physical conditioning, a strong support system, and his competitive spirit took over. He declared himself a cancer survivor, not a victim, and took an active role in educating himself about his disease and his treatment options. Armed with knowledge and confidence in medicine, he underwent aggressive treatment and beat the disease.
Lance Armstrong's victories in the 1999-2005 Tours de France are awe-inspiring and this year he’s jumping back in the saddle to spread the mission of the LAF and to let the world know that a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. The battle against cancer has just begun - not just for him, but for all cancer survivors and anyone who has ever thought that cancer can’t affect them – and we must unite together to take the global issue of cancer head on.
In 2009, it was estimated that 12 million people worldwide would be diagnosed with cancer, that 1.3 million of those will be Americans, and that more than 560,000 Americans will die due to this disease. Throughout the world, numbers suggest that as many as 8 million people will die after their cancer diagnosis. It does not have to be a death sentence. Although there is no cure, progress has been made and it is vital that we continue to work, to fight, toward beating this disease. It is time that we make a commitment to close the gap between what we know and what we do.
Jay met his goal to raise $1000 to help further the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s mission of inspiring and empowering people affected by cancer. Thank you to all who donated to this cause - together, we made a difference in the fight against cancer.
After 3 years of participation, Jay won't be riding in the 2010 LIVESTRONG Challenge. He will instead be supporting his daughter Erica in her Iron Girl Triathlon event since they fall on the same day. |
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