Ripon College Days

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Fads come and go, but few arrive on the scene with an added charitable benefit. Few that is, until the now familiar yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets launched into commission. They've since been spotted adorning the wrists of the high and low profile alike. Spin-off wristbands-both charitable and their knock-off counterparts-have emerged as well in growing numbers.

Senior Kristin Willert's mother gave her the yellow wristband last year. Willert has already worn one out and will sport her replacement band until it breaks as well in support of the cause-cancer research.

The LIVESTRONG campaign was launched by the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and Nike to support the one in three Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer over their lifetime. The campaign seeks to improve the quality of life for those living with cancer and all sale proceeds contribute to cancer research, community programming and public education.

Lance Armstrong, Tour de France champion and cancer survivor, believes the yellow band stands for hope, courage and strength. His foundation aimed to raise $5 million through bracelet sales, a figure they've already exceeded. To date, well over 55 million bands have been sold.

Junior Liz Molitor is another LIVESTRONG supporter. Although the bracelet is too large for Molitor's small wrist, she keeps her band on her keychain, and consequently, with her at all times.

"I jumped on the bandwagon pretty early on," she says. "I bought ten bracelets and gave them to my friends. It's for a good cause and Lance Armstrong's story is such an inspiring one. So many organizations want money and in this case, it's going directly to the cause."

Molitor feels the "coolness" factor of the wristbands can only add to their positive impact.

"For it to work you need that bandwagon appeal," she says, noting that people's motives for purchasing isn't as important as the fact that they're contributing to a worthy effort.

To Molitor, the bands keep the cause present in people's daily thoughts.

"They serve as a great reminder that cancer plagues so many people," she says. "And while I can't end cancer, this is what I can do to help. It keeps me aware of how lucky I am and how many people struggle on a daily basis."

After the sales of the LIVESTRONG wristbands skyrocketed, other charitable causes jumped on board. Bracelets can be seen in support of ending world poverty, the dangers of tobacco use, diabetes and autism, among others.

"It's almost like the spread of a virus," says Dr. Daniel Howard, chair of the marketing department at Southern Methodist University. "It's the thing to do."

Senior Ed Hansen, who initially wore the yellow band, now has a red Give Blood band in support of the American Red Cross and a Believe wristband he wears during baseball season to support Cubs Care. At any given time, Hansen graces his wrist with one of his bands, and even wears them while sleeping and in the shower.

Hansen got his first band from a friend down the hall who was selling them in support of the cause when the bands first took off in popularity. "I thought, 'Yeah, sure, I'll wear one. It's for a good cause,'" says Hansen. He has since come to see the band as a symbol of support and hope for those with cancer.

While he's unsure just how long he'll wear his assorted wristbands, Hansen says he'll keep them on at least until his graduation this May.

Amidst the colorful sea of wristbands furthering a soup du jour of worthy causes, there dwell knock-off bracelets bearing cute phrases and joking wordplays. While some find these an amusing fashion accessory, others feel they benefit no one.

"I think it's interesting to see the [knock-offs] at stores in the mall," says Willert. "They detract from the real purpose of wearing those that support a cause."

Hansen is in complete agreement.

"It seems like [those who wear them] are drawing more attention to themselves rather than a cause or a purpose," he says.

In addition to the more whimsical imitations, wristbands identical to those being sold for charitable purposes abound.

According to www.msnbc.com, a Dateline investigation found a host of poser bands on the streets of New York. The site offers a few suggestions to would-be supporters of LAF to guard against supporting a phony cause.

First, only buy through an authorized seller: LAF, Build-A-Bear Workshops, Discovery Channel stores and certain Nike-authorized locales. Consumers should also ensure the band is accompanied by a tag with the LAF logo. Next, a band costing any more or less than $1 should wave a red warning flag. Last, the authentic bands come in a single color. Buyer beware: only shop at authorized locations or risk supporting nothing of substance.

Although LAF and Nike's LIVESTRONG bracelets take the trophy for "Most Popular" in the wristband fad, other bands are garnering widespread support.

The United Kingdom-based Make Poverty History campaign is using their white bands in the fight to end global poverty. The group's website, www.makepovertyhistory.org, boast over eight million wearers in 2005 alone.

Another prominent bracelet is the pink one established by Operation Pink Band in support of breast cancer research. The bands, which sell for $5, bear the words faith, hope, courage and strength separated by the awareness ribbon.

Bands for a plethora of other forms of cancer can be found at www.choosehope.com. The wristbands, which all read "Say it, Fight it, Cure it!" come in a variety of colors including white for lung cancer, orange for leukemia and light blue for prostate cancer.

Like any fad, the wristband craze is sure to wane at some point, but so far, there's no end in sight.

"Hopefully these will stay popular for a long time," Hansen says. "They're helping so many different groups do so many different things."

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