livestrong bands are today's oakleys ...
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High School Runners Win Battle Over Cancer Wristbands
Updated: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 - 6:24 AM
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Stung by criticism of its action, a high
school district has reversed a decision to disqualify cross country
runners for wearing Lance Armstrong LiveStrong wristbands.
The decision was reversed because "adequate prior notice had not been
given to the participants," Bruce Biehl, Kellam High School's
principal and chairman of Beach District cross country, said in a
statement released Tuesday.
More than 20 runners were declared ineligible in a meet last Wednesday
for wearing the popular LiveStrong bands, sold for $1 apiece. Proceeds
go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which provides practical
information to cancer survivors.
Biehl said the meet results are being retallied and will be announced
Wednesday.
Runners will be allowed to continue wearing the wristbands for the
rest of the district cross country season, he said. Biehl added that
clarification will be sought on wearing the bands during regional and
state competitions.
A flood of e-mails protesting the decision followed a story Saturday
in The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk detailing the Beach District's
action.
The decision to disqualify the runners, Biehl said, was in keeping
with a recently drafted National Federation of State High School
Associations ruling classifying the band as jewelry. But Biehl
acknowledged that runners and coaches weren't given much notice.
The Virginia High School League circulated the new policy to schools
on Oct. 4, two days before the meet.
Many of the runners in last Wednesday's meet said they were unaware
that the bands were classified as jewelry and would have taken them
off had they known they risked disqualification.
"Our kids certainly weren't wearing them to be defiant," said Mike
Nestor, coach at Ocean Lakes High. "We're kind of in awe of everything
that's happened."
But Nestor said the controversy has served as a learning tool for his
athletes.
"Sometimes you wear that band but forget what it's really for," Nestor
said. "I've received e-mails from all over the country from cancer
survivors voicing their support. Through their stories, we've learned
what an inspiration that band really is."
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)