As a PR person, I was compelled to watch Oprah’s interview with Lance Armstrong last Thursday. Enough has already been said about it.
What this confession meant to his charity, Livestrong, continues to unfold as this highly visible organization – which has done so much to provide help to those suffering from cancer and provide a rallying cry against the disease – is left to pick up the pieces.
I watched CEO Doug Ulman, himself a cancer survivor, appear on “Today” Friday morning to talk about his reaction to Lance’s confession.
What a terrible moment for this man who has helped to create a successful foundation in the fight against one of life’s most terrible diseases.
Friday afternoon I received this email from Livestrong:
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What a tight rope walk of messaging – Livestrong is left to walk a new path, one that acknowledges its roots with gratitude while trying to forge a new, independent identity.
I’ll leave you to judge Lance’s racing-related behavior for yourself. There is no doubt, however, that he did a good thing in founding Livestrong. The help they provide is real, and so is the psychological boost people receive from wearing their yellow bracelets.
It will be interesting to see how this organization evolves over time.