BAND WITH A MESSAGE
Cancer fund-raiser is fashion must-have.
By Sony Hocklander, News-Leader

Lance Armstrong: Cancer survivor. Six-time Tour de France winner. Hero.

Fashion statement?

You betcha.

Millions of silicone rubber yellow wristbands imprinted with Armstrong's mantra, "LIVESTRONG," have become a red-hot must-have.

More than 15 million of the $1 bands have sold nationwide and overseas since their May 17 release. The bands are made by Nike (absent its famous swoosh) as a fund-raiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and cancer research. They average 300,000 sales a day.

Kids, teens and adults of both genders — but particularly high school and college guys — clamor for the bracelet that's hard to find. It's even showing up on famous wrists, including those of Sen. John Kerry, President George Bush, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Jay Leno and Armstrong's girlfriend, Sheryl Crow.

ESPN reports that Armstrong thought, at best, the foundation would sell 500,000 bands the color of his jersey. Now he predicts that number could spike to more than 20 million.

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