Fast Company
"Buy Bracelets"
Lance Armstrong's yellow livestrong bracelets have raised more than $30 million to fight cancer since May 2004. They've also set off a thriving aftermarket -- and a host of silicone wannabes.
| Message | Cause | Creator | Color | Price | Number sold | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Starts Here | Women's cancer research and prevention | Athena Partners | Pink | $1 | 190,000 | Athena has donated two times more from band sales than from proceeds of its actual product, bottled water. |
| 1200 (the daily U.S. death toll from tobacco products) | Smoking cessation | Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids | Red | 10 for $10 | 60,000 | Wear your wristband on April 13, national "Kick Butts" day. |
| Beat Bullying | Bully cessation | British government | Turquoise | Free | 1,000,000 | Sold out, so you'll either have to find one on eBay or beat someone up for his.0 |
| Support Our Troops | Entertaining soldiers overseas | USO (via 7-Eleven stores) | Camouflage green | $2.99 | 621,300 | Raising hackles because they're made in China, which in 2001 detained a U.S. military aircraft crew. |
| Keep Doctors In Illinois | Medical malpractice reform | Doctors in Illinois (partially funded by Pfizer) | Neon green | 10 cents | Nearly 100,000 | This one is least likely to be put in a birthday party goodie bag. |
| Baller, Team, Respect, others | Making money | Nike | Various | $5 for three | Company won't disclose | Nike says these bands existed before the Lance craze, but it has sure surfed the wave. |