This is a bit of a different Heroes in our Midst today.
There was a hero. A man whose feats were so unbelievable, he inspired millions of others to get up and ‘do’. To take the challenge. To fight on. To never give up.
He received many awards and rewards for his perseverance, his stamina, his choice to not quit but to forge on, in spite of the steepness of the road, the darkness of the weather and times. In spite of all that life threw at him, he kept fighting and climbed the highest pinnacle of success he could achieve.
And in the process, millions of others chose to not give in, or give up. Millions of others chose to pick up the gauntlet of making a difference, of being the difference they want to see in the world.
Lance Armstrong was stripped of his medals yesterday. And while it has not been proven in a court of law that he doped to achieve his best, in the court of our shared human condition, it would appear he did.
I don’t know that I wouldn’t have done the same in his position. I don’t know that I wouldn’t have given in to the lure of the drugs that could give me the edge to beat out my opponents, especially knowing my opponents were using and doing the same.
I don’t know.
I do know, what he accomplished through and after his battle with cancer is still remarkable. Inspiring. Exhilarating.
I do know that in his quest to not give into the disease, he inspired millions of others to do the same. And in his drive to use his fame to raise awareness and funds to fight the disease, he achieved huge success. I know people who have taken the Ride to Conquer Cancer because of Lance Armstrong’s inspiration. And I know how powerful that ride was in helping them to fight the disease that was eating away at their life or the life of someone they loved. Whether they lived to tell the tale of beating their disease, or not, their fight was inspired by this man’s drive to not let the disease get him. And in that act, he gave them hope, a sense of purpose, a belief in what they could achieve as long as they didn’t give up.
In the end, it is drugs that helped all of them beat cancer. And I know there’s nothing wrong with that.
For years I saw Lance Armstrong as a super-hero. A larger than life persona who even through his trademark arrogance, accomplished what no other man had ever achieved.
He may not be ‘super’ today, but he is still a hero. Because for me, Lance Armstrong fought a disease and won and he helped millions of others do the same.
Anyone can ride a bike. Not everyone beats cancer. And in life, beating cancer is the greater win.
Dare Boldly 
I had been a bit torn about my feelings about these events. Cheating is cheating. But then, the old admonition,” ye who are without sin, cast the first stone” came to mind. None of us could avoid the hypocritical label, if judged. The cycling contest is flawed and thus leads to the dilemma faced by any serious competitor. So, it appears that Lance ‘walked into hell for a heavenly cause’. Lance acquired fame, but he leveraged it for good. He is remembered more for the supreme effort than by the loss of the medals, which really only say ‘you’re the most effective cheater’.
If you want to know who the athletes should call ‘a living legend’, I believe it’s less a sprinter with genetic gifts, and more an athlete who, through supreme effort and determination, has contributed to a cause which will ease the suffering of millions. Keep your head up, Lance.
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Brian! Thank you for chiming in — I love what you wrote. And yes, I agree. contributing to a cause to ease the suffering of millions does make one a hero! Lovely to see you here. L
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Well said Mark!
Thanks.
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LG,
In the case of Lance Armstrong – it isn’t so much about rules and whether he broke them. It isn’t as if he defrauded donors into supporting a cause, or that he might have lined his pockets a bit along the way.
It isn’t that he did good, or great or anything people are debating about.
Despite all his failings, failures and imperfections that could be described as horrors …. or as simplisticaly as we who drive 30K over the limit and don’t get caught for speeding.
He gave, and still gives, hope.
Whether his giving up a fight agains sanctions he likely wouldn’t have won, or that he has to return 7 yellow shirts . . . matters not to me.
He’s had an incredible ride – and I don’t just mean, fame, dating Chery Crow, or being a hero to so many.
He’s inspired anyone who has ever uttered the words ‘that can’t be done’, or ‘this diagnosis is certain’.
He is proof that doctors, critics and competitors can – and often are – wrong. Not based on science, or history or precedent, but based on enormous drive that lives inside all of us.
Would I break a rule or two to save myself from Cancer?
Of course I would. So would anyone.
He served to remind us of that – and anyone who can certainly deserves HERO status in this word, regardless of his many shortcomings, failings, errors, frauds, rule-breaking or law-breaking escapades . . .
He gave, gives and continues to give HOPE. Like HERO, a 4 letter word that begins with H.
Mark
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