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In reply to the discussion: Fuck Lance Armstrong.. [View all]Xithras
(16,191 posts)I've lost many people in my life to cancer, and Armstrong was an inspiration to several of them. One of my best friends ran the 2005 Bay To Breakers with stage 4 cancer and was preparing to run his first triathlon when he passed away, and he regularly credited Armstrong as being his inspiration..."Cancer didn't stop Lance Armstrong, and it's not going to stop me!" He would be heartbroken to know that Armstrong cheated.
I didn't want to believe, because believing meant accepting that many of those who were genuinely inspired by him were simply duped. It also meant accepting the fact that a cancer survivor DIDN'T overcome his death sentence and go on to become one of the worlds best athletes. He gave people hope, and that hope has largely been dashed.
I know that Armstrong has never got a lot of love on the always cynical DU, but many cancer patients cling to whatever hope and inspiration they can find. Armstrong was that hope and inspiration for many people. Now he's just a fraud.