It's been said that if Lance Armstrong's story were written as a movie, it would be dismissed as "trite melodrama."
But here's the truth. A deadly disease struck a successful athlete. Despite desperately thin odds, he managed to not only beat the cancer, but to return to the sport he loved and win its most coveted prize. But the beauty of Lance's story is that it doesn't end on the finish line of the Tour de France. His life has taken on new meaning and his website says: "No matter what his path, he will travel it with sure knowledge that every day is precious and that every step matters."
Lance was always athletic and competitive and his mother was one of his greatest supporters. At age 13 he won the Iron Kids Triathlon and became a professional athlete when he was only 16 years old. It nearly cost him his high school diploma as he trained with the U.S. Olympic cycling developmental team in Colorado Springs his senior year.
Lance's rise in the amateur ranks was seemingly effortless and he qualified for the junior world championships in Moscow in 1989. By 1991 he was the U.S. National Amateur Champion and soon afterward turned professional.
Once in the professional realm, Lance would become the number 1 ranked cyclist with a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. But seeming tragedy struck while at the top of his game. In excruciating pain, Lance was forced to stop riding. In early October of 1996 he was given the devastating news that he had cancer.
In that moment, Lance's life changed forever. Tests showed his advanced cancer had spread to his lungs and brain and his chances for recovery were far less than 50-50. Scared to death but determined, Lance started an aggressive form of chemotherapy. It worked, and his thoughts slowly returned to racing.
Even though the cancer had left him scarred physically and emotionally, Lance says it ". . . was the best thing that ever happened to me." His new perspective on life pushed him beyond racing to embrace the cancer community. He started the Lance Armstrong Foundation within months of his diagnosis to help others with the struggles they would face with this devastating disease.
As you probably already know, Lance went on to win the Tour de France in 1999 and became an international hero to both the racing world and the cancer community! He went on to win six more Tour de France titles and has been awarded nearly every sports honor there is. Lance Armstrong has become a symbol of hope, determination and inspiration!
I hope it won't take a crisis like Lance Armstrong's for you to embrace life with a grateful heart. I hope that regardless of the struggles you may be facing today, in your heart-of-hearts, you too can say "every day is precious and every step matters."
As you live today...take a moment to reflect on this gift and know that with each step you take, you get a step closer to living YOUR dreams.
Ginny Dye, Sandi Valentine & Suess Karlsson are a team of writers who all share a passion to empower and motivate everyone who they touch through their writing. Their stories are a gift to the world! Learn how to create the http://www.firefliesfortheheart.com success you dream of , overcome obstacles and challenges, and live a life of grace and love. Please visit us at http://www.firefliesfortheheart.com
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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