• 1/5/2005
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • Kerry Sullivan – editor
  • First Coast News

Whether you are wearing one because it looks cool, or because you have been touched by someone with cancer, wristbands, like the yellow “Livestrong” bracelet by Lance Armstrong are becoming more popular than ever on the first coast. From the Avenues Mall to the soccer fields at Jacksonville University, everyone is wearing them.

For Freshman Courtney Eppleman, her “Livestrong” wristband is in honor of her grandfather who died of throat cancer last year.
“If I can save one life by wearing it, then I feel good,” says Eppleman.

Eppleman is one of dozens of ladies on the team who wears her wristband proudly. Their coach, Chris Kouns, got them started with a kickout cancer match when he took the head coaching job last year. They haven’t taken them off since.

“My father is a cancer survivor so it meant a lot to me to do this. They had a kickout cancer match up north where I came from, but not down here,” Kouns says.

While the yellow “Livestrong” wristbands seem to be the most popular, another color is getting all the attention on the first coast. “I don’t take mine off,” Patty Gruelle says. Gruelle is a breast cancer survivor two times around. The “Livestrong” wristband was the inspiration behind her latest project, pink “Carpe Diem” breast cancer wristbands.

Gruelle teamed up with the Donna Hicken foundation to seize the day and support the disease. She says it’s so important for friends and family to play a role in their loved one’s cancer. “It’s as easy as slipping your bracelet on,” she says.

“Whoever has the opportunity to wear one and talk to somebody, it helps. It helps the families, I know it helped ours.”

Dozens of people we talked to who were wearing the yellow and pink wristbands, admit they like them because of their trendy fashion appeal. Celebrities and even Senator John Kerry are among those who appear in front of America with one on.

For Coach Kuhns and Connie Gruelle, it’s okay they are being worn for fashion reasons, because the message is still getting across. “As long as more people learn what they stand for, and the message is getting across, it’s fine,” says Gruelle.

There are two new wristbands making their debut this year. The United Service Organization or USO, has released a “Support Our Troops” wristband. For each wristband sold, $1 will be donated to the USO to fund programs and services for military service members and their families worldwide. Due out later this week, is the “Waves of Welcome” wristband from the Super Bowl Host Committee.