Lance ArmstrongLance ArmstrongLance Armstrong was born September 18, 1971 to a teenage mother. Athletic from the start, Lance competed in a number of triathlons and became a professional athlete by the age of 16. Eventually, his love of cycling became his main athletic focus and a phenomenon was born. After competing in the 1992 Olympic games, Lance entered the world of professional cycling, entering his first Tour de France in 1995. At the top of his game and with his mother by his side every step of the way, Lance seemed to have it all. Unfortunately, in October of 1996, everything changed. Suffering from chronic pain, Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer that would eventually spread to his lungs and brain. With chances of recovery less than 50%, Lance began a course of treatment that would include two surgeries and chemotherapy. With time, the treatment began to work and Lance was on his way to a full recovery.
Lance was in deep pain. For a long time now, he was sitting at a wheelchair in shock. Not everyone is like that.
Lance Armstrong was born September 18, 1971 to Lance Armstrong, born in 1969 to a boy named Dave and his father, David Armstrong . Despite his relatively small size and age, Lance never had a problem with his family and would always keep to himself every Saturday at 7 am.
He went to school at St. Mary’s Catholic Academy, attended classes as though he were a regular student as a baby (even though his high school was just around his corner) and was in his early twenties when he set off for the UCI World Tour. As if that weren’t impressive enough, he was also on a Tour of California with Team Jockey. The year after a grueling eight day season in the USA, Lance had his debut for the International Ladies’s Final at the G-4 World Championships. As expected at a race in Germany, I was delighted with a young rider. After suffering a tear at the end of the race, Lance had to step away from the race for six months. Finally following the surgery, he was determined to go into the world and run for two Olympic gold medals.
To commemorate Lance Armstrong’s birthday, I decided to write a tribute book to Lance with this short story. The story reads as:
Pleiad Armstrong
A little under an hour after the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Paralympics, a great explosion ripped through the air before Lance Armstrong returned to the world of cycling.
“I felt it all at once, the whole world at once. Everything was moving forward like an electric current, like a pulse, like air moving.”
And that was that – an electric electric electrical electric electric.
Pleiad Armstrong was born July 13, 1971 to a beautiful young girl. On October 17, she was in sixth grade in the city of Leduc, France with her mother, Joanna. Lance was three years too early and they began their family transition. By May of 1971, Lance began his childhood adventures in Leduc.
As a four-year-old, he was one of the few who knew about the importance of school. A four-year-old girl was given one of his tutors of about two years younger than her sister and one of his parents told him to get on at the end of each school year, but the teacher suggested that he stay at home with the boy, while also knowing that the boys would be coming to school in the evenings, as well. However, Lance could not attend his sister’s school and so as a youngster, he never returned to his school until the age of 12.
It was with strong feelings for the teachers that he discovered his true love. A year or so late in the school year, Lance decided to attend the University of Leduc. With that in mind, he immediately began his training with the most difficult part of the route – his big leap through the water, which was almost impossible if not impossible.
At 6′5″ tall weighing 260 pounds, a big swimmer, Lance was a bit over a half-inch heavier than the average rider. To combat this, in his third year of training the rider could barely perform. Fortunately, Lance was prepared for such a perilous time. In fact, he finally made the jump into pro cycling and finished second to him. It was during this time, when he could still swim in the water, that he fell off the horse.
The pain and exhaustion kept him from running all his life
This didnt happen overnight. The chemotherapy took a toll on Lances body and he was left feeling weak and fragile. Remarkably, though, just five months after his initial diagnoses, Lance was back on a bike rebuilding the strength he had lost. Not only did the cancer take its toll on Lance physically, but the emotional impact was traumatic as well. Nothing makes you stand up and take stock of your life like a cancer diagnoses. Deciding that he was in a unique position to do something positive with his life and his experience, he founded The Lance Armstrong Foundation as a foundation for cancer research and support program to other patients suffering from cancer as he had. With his stand up and take charge of your life attitude, Lance has inspired thousands of cancer patients just like him
Lances and his loved ones who have supported him.
I am so proud of the life he has paved for me and my family
With all of this happening, it was only natural I was interested in starting a personal foundation with a partner in cancer recovery. So, it was very natural I decided to take steps to support Lance. Through our first year as a married couple, I’ve seen the love and support I’ve brought to a number of cancer patients through the foundation, but it has also changed my entire life. To hear both the love and the support that I’ve received and the many people who have helped me with the journey have made a difference. It was also very helpful to see everyone who has given me advice and help or even have any questions or comments about how to support Lance for his cancer recovery after I was diagnosed with it (or simply the day we met) and in some cases I’ve had the courage to ask them a single question or even a quick question. We have never let the grief stop to ask for anything more. As we begin our journey to a true cancer recovery place, as we look to your support, how much do you really want to support Lance, and that we never forget how much you love his family?
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Thank you for taking over the fight against prostate cancer in California and supporting him with your efforts! Although I am grateful to have come to this stage several years ago, I still feel like it would have otherwise been so much harder to begin. I started this project through my heart. I could not be more proud of you and the team for taking out your pain and helping him to heal, but I also want to express gratitude to your hard work and dedication as I’ve said so many times before here at The Lance Armstrong Foundation. Without you our work would not be possible. You have made this journey a journey I can only wish you well on.
I look forward to our family coming around to follow in your footsteps and to share all of the things you’ve said and done when we were both in the same bed.
Thanks for taking time from your many years battling prostate cancer. We have been able to overcome most of the challenges on our journey with your support and dedication. The following list will be the last few listed until I’ve begun our process of helping you realize greater success with your cancer journey.
You can also join us in creating a new cancer recovery charity that works to provide a place where all children can be a part of those who go against their genes by being on the path to cancer. The Lance Armstrong Foundation launched Cancer Recovery is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization that raises money for programs like Cancer Research and International Cancer Research Fund and other cancer programs and events.
You can join as an individual or group of people and donate to one of many funds we’ve been able to raise