Purchase's Livestrong Triathlon Promotes Cancer Awareness

Photo credit: Sean Tomizawa

Supporters of Lance Armstrong's cancer awareness foundation, Livestrong, came together on Friday, Oct. 2 at Purchase College to celebrate the first annual Livestrong Day. The Lance Armstrong Foundation invites groups around the world to hold triathlons in their areas to promote cancer awareness. The triathlons are held on October 2  because it was the day Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer. The event also honors his remarkable recovery.

Aside from promoting cancer awareness, the latest annual event by the foundation aims to promote two new and more relevant issues going on today. Armstrong asked all of Friday's participants to support his petition that no Americans should be denied health care coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and that no Americans should lose their insurance due to changes in health or employment.

Armstrong was quite familiar with these problems because of his 1996 battle with testicular cancer. Armstrong, like many Americans, struggled to get health insurance after he was diagnosed, and is now using his position and popularity to help promote an important aspect of the current health care crisis.

The triathlon at Purchase consisted of 150 yards of swimming, followed by a three mile bike ride, and ended with a one and a half mile run. It was organized by Resident Coordinator of the apartments Paul Echeverria. "[Cancer] is very tough to deal with," said Echeverria, who lost his best friend in 2003 to a battle with cancer. "I was always inspired by Lance's story and the fact that although he left the tour and left cycling, he went on to still do things with cancer research, push cancer research, and to really promote the message of cancer awareness."

Kyle Saud, a senior at Purchase, was one of the participators in Livestrong Day. "I think Livestrong is a great program,” he said. “I've had family members that have suffered from cancer, and one passed away, so I felt this was something good to be involved in."

Although the event had a small turnout of six participants, overall it was an optimistic environment. This positivity can be attributed to the cheerleaders that came and showed their support, and Meghan Lalonde, who put on the Purchase Panther uniform.

Zach Wilson dominated the event. He was second out of the pool, and after that, was in complete control of the race, finishing first in the biking portion. He eventually won the event with an overall time of twenty-three minutes and fifty-four seconds, two minutes and forty-nine seconds faster than the second place finisher, Phillip Gallo.

Wilson said that he had done another triathlon a year and a half ago, and “it was a lot of fun, so I just wanted to go out and have fun. I love the whole atmosphere and the multi-discipline approach involved in a triathlon."

Kathleen Mary Kline was the only female participant and finished with a time of twenty-eight minutes, thirty-two seconds, which put her in fifth place. She said it was “a little daunting” to be the sole female in the event, but that she tries “to do my part, and do things that don't always benefit me."

Attitudes like Kline’s were what made Friday’s first Livestrong Day at Purchase possible and successful.

For those that couldn't participate in Friday's event, but would still like to participate in the promotions of Livestrong Day, should log on to www.livestrongaction.org/campaigns/healthcare to sign the petition.