The band is part of the "Wear Yellow Live Strong" educational program. The program is intended to raise money for cancer research, raise cancer awareness, and encourage people to live life to the fullest. The band sells individually, as well as in packs of 10, 100, and 1,200 as part of an effort to raise $25 million for the Lance Armstrong Foundation in cooperation with Nike who manufactures the "live strong" bands in Austin, Texas the home of Lance Armstrong and other world wide manufacturing plants and sells the wristbands through their Nike outlets worldwide. This target was achieved within 6 months, and there have now been 70 million Livestrong bands sold to date. Individual bands sell for US$1 each.
Yellow was chosen for its importance in professional cycling, as it is the color of the yellow jersey worn by the leader of the Tour de France. Other charities were inspired by the success of the Livestrong bracelets, and many charities have developed their own wristbands for raising money and awareness.
Popularity
On an August 2007 edition of the satirical television show The Colbert Report (where Armstrong made a guest appearance), Stephen Colbert parodied the wristband, creating the "Wriststrong" wristband, in his growing campaign against "Wrist violence".
In The Office episode "Michael's Birthday," Michael creates a makeshift Livestrong wristband out of yellow paper upon finding out that Kevin is at risk for skin cancer.
Hospitals
Some hospitals have reportedly cut the Livestrong wristbands from patients' wrists because they resemble the yellow "Do Not Resuscitate" bands used by some medical facilities
eBay controversy
A rush to purchase the bands resulted in profiteering through such venues as eBay, angering Armstrong. eBay refused to ban the sale of Livestrong bands, saying it was an online marketplace where buyers and sellers meet and determine their own prices. As a result of the bands becoming fashion items counterfeit wristbands also became available in places such as fleamarkets, detracting from the cause.
