Cycling legend Lance Armstrong takes cancer fundraiser to Vancouver

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong takes cancer fundraiser to Vancouver
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http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hC3aoSMASUADX_y0Py8ne3eivhYA

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong takes cancer fundraiser to Vancouver

20 hours ago

VANCOUVER - Hundreds of cyclists turned up Sunday on the University of
B.C. campus to get a glimpse of cycling legend Lance Armstrong and to help
raise money to fight cancer.

Armstrong and the cyclists gathered at Thunderbird Stadium to take part in
the second day of the two-day Tour of Courage, which is organized by the
B.C. Cancer Foundation.

The first event was held Saturday in Kelowna and 50 cyclists helped raise
$2 million as they rode through south Kelowna with the cycling legend.

All funds raised are to support blood cancer research the B.C. Cancer
Agency. More than 1,000 people in B.C. are diagnosed with blood cancers
such as leukemia, myeloma and aggressive lymphomas each year.

Armstrong spoke briefly with reporters before he jumped on a bicycle,
saying that his career focus now is on fighting cancer.

He declined to answer questions regarding the decision a few days ago in
which an arbitration panel stripped Floyd Landis of his 2006 Tour de
France title because it said Landis used synthetic testosterone.

"I'd love to answer the question but unfortunately I'm out of that
business," said Armstrong. "I'm here to fight cancer. I haven't looked
online. I still love the bike and ride all the time but on the competitive
side I'm just not engaged."

He said cycling issues now are "just a distraction for me."

Armstrong, the seven-time Tour De France champion and a cancer survivor,
was joined at the UBC event by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, and Sindi
Hawkins, the chairperson of the event and the MLA for Kelowna-Mission.

Hawkins, also a cancer survivor, was the chairperson of the event and her
work was lauded by the premier.

"Sindi Hawkins made this happen because of her commitment to all of us."

Campbell said one in three people will face a cancer diagnosis, and he
mentioned seven people, including Hawkins, that he knew personally who
have had a cancer diagnosis.

"You (fundraising supporters) are saying to those people, 'We are going to
keep fighting. The job isn't done until it's done.'

"We're going to eliminate cancer from our lives, from the country, and
from the world."

Armstrong said he is in great demand and attends 10 to 12 cancer events
like this weekend's each year.

"We see the work that is being done here, great stuff going on. We're
excited to be here and come back and help out if we need to.

"We need passionate people to fight this war."

He wasn't sure if he would be able to return next year because there is a
lot of work to be done in his country, the U.S.
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Sounds like he's heading into politics, IMO
J

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