The short answer
The Lance Armstrong Foundation was founded in 1997 by the cancer survivor and cyclist for whom it was named. It became known worldwide for its yellow wristbands, of which about 80 million were sold. In 2012, after Armstrong was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs, stripped of his Tour de France titles, and had resigned from its board, the organization renamed itself the LIVESTRONG Foundation to separate its identity from his. It does not treat patients and today focuses on practical support programs rather than the founder it was originally built around.
The organization was founded in 1997 as the Lance Armstrong Foundation, by the cancer survivor and professional cyclist of the same name.
Its wristband campaign became one of the most recognizable charity fundraising symbols of the 2000s; about 80 million yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands had been sold by 2013.
In 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency found that Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs, and he was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from professional cycling.
Armstrong resigned as chairman and from the foundation's board in November 2012, shortly before publicly admitting to doping in a January 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
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If you remember the yellow wristbands, you may wonder what became of the group behind them. This page walks through the LIVESTRONG Foundation's founding, its rename, and what it offers people with cancer now.
Founded by the survivor whose name it carried
The group began in 1997 as the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Its founder was the pro cyclist and testicular cancer survivor it was named for. Early on, it focused on a gap he said he had felt himself: support for people living with cancer. That meant help before, during, and after treatment, apart from the treatment itself. The foundation says it helped establish "survivorship" as its own recognized area of focus. At the time, that concept had little formal attention.
A wristband that became a global symbol
In 2004, the foundation began selling a simple $1 wristband made of yellow silicone and printed with the word "LIVESTRONG." It became one of the most recognizable charity fundraising symbols of the decade. By 2013, an estimated 80 million wristbands had been sold worldwide. The foundation reports raising more than $500 million and serving more than 10 million cancer survivors over its history. Those figures span both before and after the events described below.
The 2012 doping findings and Armstrong's departure
In 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) found that Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his cycling career. As a result, he was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. He was also banned from professional cycling. The foundation initially questioned USADA's process. But Armstrong resigned as chairman and from its board that November. Two months later, in January 2013, he admitted to doping. He did this in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Why the organization renamed itself
In November 2012, the same month Armstrong stepped down, the organization renamed itself the LIVESTRONG Foundation. It stated that "it has never been about one person." The new name was meant to set its identity, mission, and programs apart from its founder's personal scandal. It also made clear that its work would go on without him. Armstrong has had no formal role with the foundation since his 2012 resignation.
The change coincided with a sharp decline in revenue. The foundation's reported income fell from about $15.8 million in 2011 to about $3.2 million by 2018. That drop tracked the loss of the founder's public standing, not any change in the foundation's programs.
What the foundation does today
LIVESTRONG describes its current focus as practical, everyday problems people with cancer face. It does not build its work around any single flagship campaign. Current programs include:
- Livestrong Fertility, which helps patients understand fertility preservation options before cancer treatment.
- Livestrong at the YMCA, a fitness and recovery program run through local YMCA chapters.
- CancerFit training resources.
Its own framing is direct. It asks: "Which everyday cancer problem will we fix today?"
What the foundation cannot do
LIVESTRONG does not diagnose or treat cancer, and it is not a hospital or clinic. It cannot make treatment decisions for a patient. Those decisions stay with a patient's own oncology team. Fertility preservation options in particular are time-sensitive. They are also specific to a person's diagnosis and treatment plan. So a program like Livestrong Fertility is a starting point for that conversation, not a substitute for it.
The foundation's current reach and funding are smaller than at its peak. Check with the foundation that a local program is still offered. Do not assume it is, based on the group's past fame. For its current resources in detail, see our separate LIVESTRONG Foundation resources page.
Why the history is still useful
The organization's history is unusual among cancer nonprofits. Its founder's personal conduct became part of its own story in a direct way most nonprofits never face. Knowing that history explains why the foundation carries "LIVESTRONG" rather than a founder's name today. It also explains why its current identity is deliberately built around its programs, rather than around any one person.
Common questions
Who founded the LIVESTRONG Foundation, and when?
It was founded in 1997 by Lance Armstrong, a professional cyclist and testicular cancer survivor, as the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Its original purpose centered on supporting people affected by cancer and establishing the concept of 'survivorship' as its own area of focus.
Why did the Lance Armstrong Foundation change its name to LIVESTRONG?
The foundation renamed itself LIVESTRONG in November 2012, after Armstrong had resigned from its board following the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's finding that he had used performance-enhancing drugs. The rename was intended to separate the organization's identity and mission from its founder.
What happened to Lance Armstrong in 2012?
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency found that Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his cycling career. He was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from professional cycling. He resigned as chairman and from the foundation's board that November, and publicly admitted to doping in a January 2013 television interview.
Is LIVESTRONG still connected to Lance Armstrong?
No. Armstrong resigned from the foundation's board in November 2012 and has had no formal role in the organization since. The rename to LIVESTRONG was part of establishing that separation.
What are the yellow LIVESTRONG wristbands?
They were a $1 fundraising item first sold in 2004 that became one of the most widely recognized charity symbols of that decade. By 2013, about 80 million had reportedly been sold worldwide.
Does LIVESTRONG provide medical treatment?
No. LIVESTRONG funds and runs support programs — such as fertility guidance for cancer patients, fitness programs, and practical resources — but it is not a hospital or clinic and does not diagnose or treat cancer. Those decisions stay with a patient's own oncology team.
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Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
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