Tags: Anti-Doping, cancer, celebrity, Lance Armstrong, Livestrong, Tour De France, trust
Lance Armstrong – Under Fire Posted on September 5th, 2012
Lance Armstrong is a model of courage, persistence and endurance. He overcame testicular cancer to win the famous cycling race, The Tour De France, seven times. Through his celebrity Armstrong believed in not only giving back but motivating others to Live Strong through their own adversities. I, like many others, was impressed by him. Founded 15 years ago, Armstrong’s foundation Livestrong and its iconic yellow bracelets are a symbol in the fight against cancer. But not all charities are immune to scandal. “The fundamental premise upon which people give to charity is trust,” according to Ken Berger, CEO of Charity Navigator, a charity watchdog. Trust is the life blood of a charity. Trust is the fundamental principle in any relationship. Golden boy, Lance Armstrong is under fire because of the US Anti-Doping Agency’s case against him for alleged performance-enhancing drug use and blood transfusions on The Tour. Here we have another celebrity falling from grace because of a potentially bad decision. Tiger Woods, John Edwards, Anthony Weiner – all important people in positions of trust. It seems that Armstrong will no longer fight the anti-doping allegations, saying, “enough is enough!” All of this is very messy and upsetting not only for Lance Armstrong but for all the people who have been inspired by him. But the charges will affect Armstrong’s sponsorships, funding for the Livestrong Foundation and his ability to compete in upcoming triathlons. When you are a celebrity and in the limelight – it behooves one NOT to screw up. Having undergone an epic breach of trust in my own life, trust and integrity are of paramount importance. Honor your agreements and if you are in a position of trust in a marriage or in the work place don’t be tempted to violate it. A breach of trust to this degree could jeopardize everything that Lance Armstrong has worked so hard for. It could all fall like a pack of cards. The Lance Armstrong story is a wake-up call to those who are tempted to violate their most precious relationships and the most precious of all values – integrity.