Lance Armstrong's cancer research fund-raising machine rolled through the Portland area Sunday as he appeared at the first-ever LiveStrong bike ride.
Joining the 7-time Tour de France champion and cancer survivor were Eddy Merckx (5-time Tour champ), Discovery teammate George Hincapie and OLN cycling commentator Bob Roll.
News outlets report that 3,500 cyclists participated in the bike ride that started at the Nike complex in Beaverton. The Lance Armstrong Foundation had banked on raising $500,000 for cancer research in the event, but instead raised $1.3 million. That comes on the heels of nearly $1 million raised in a 2-day ride in Calgary with 30 cyclists.
The LiveStrong Ride in Portland is an outgrowth of Armstrong's Ride for the Roses bike ride held annually in Austin since 1998. A spokeswoman said LiveStrong rides are planned in six as-yet-to-be-determined cities next year.
A first-person account of the bike ride is online at BikePortland.org. The blogger reports that Armstrong's handlers banned media from getting within 12 feet, but he did get some pictures (above). Armstrong also touted Portland as “one of the greatest cycling communities in the world.”
Research
So far this year, the Lance Armstrong Foundation has awarded $3.3 million in research grants and $1.7 million to 31 community nonprofit organizations. The foundation has sold 55 million LiveStrong wristbands, which cost $1.
Two months after his 7th Tour de France victory, Armstrong continues to grab the spotlight. In addition to participating in the Tour of Hope Sept. 29-Oct. 8 with its grand finale in Washington D.C. and the Ride for the Roses in Austin Oct. 21-23, Armstrong is scheduled to host NBC's “Saturday Night Live” on October 29, with fiancee Sheryl Crow as his musical guest. The two also are throwing a party for Austin at Zilker Park Auditorium Shores on Oct. 2.
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