The silicone rubber message bracelet¹ is both a fashionable accessory² as well as a living motto for many young people.

The hottest fashion accessory in this summer is the silicone rubber message bracelet. Available in a rainbow of colors and with a sporty style, the colorful wristbands are the fashion pack's essential accessory. Some wear them in many colors up to their elbows; some have them on the ankles, and others even use them to tie their hair. 

Rubber wristbands are not just for decoration, they have a deeper meaning.

The bracelets³ were originally worn by basketball players to identify their position. But it was American cyclist Lance Armstrong who made them world popular.

Armstrong, the winner of a record seven consecutive⁴ Tour de France titles, overcame advanced testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain.

He created the Lance Armstrong Foundation and designed the yellow "Live Strong" wristband in 2004: the yellow for the jersey⁵ of the Tour de France leader and "live strong" his motto. Five millions bands were made, sold at one-dollar each, with all proceeds going to the LAF to support people fighting against cancer.

Yellow for fighting against cancer	Pink for the campaign against breast cancer	Black and white is for anti-racism	White is for "Make Poverty History"

Since then, other US charities and causes have also launched their own wristbands. The color pink is for the campaign against breast cancer, black and white is for anti-racism, and white is for "Make Poverty History " . These symbols have now spread all over the world and are worn across the US, Europe and Asia.

Many celebrities⁶ such as American film stars Tom Hanks and Nicole Kidman, England captain David Beckham, as well as British Prime Minister Tony Blair and American President George W. Bush have worn wristbands to back charities. 

信念圈
　　正在全世界风行的腕带，早期它只是街头篮球比赛中用于区别身份的标记，2004年环法自行车赛六连霸冠军阿姆斯特朗却凭借着他顽强的生命重写了腕带的含义。

　　阿姆斯特朗于1996年25岁时被诊断患有癌症，可是他并没有因此而放弃他所热爱的自行车运动，他凭着异于常人的毅力与癌症对抗，还创办了专门针对癌症问题的慈善组织----兰斯.阿姆斯特朗基金会（Lance Armstrong Foundation）。

　　2004年5月在环法自行车赛之前，兰斯·阿姆斯特朗基金会同赞助商NIKE公司联手，并由NIKE公司设计出一种黄腕环。它们共制作了500万个黄腕环。腕环由类似橡胶的材料硅酮制成，上面还印有阿姆斯特朗的名言“活得坚强”（Live Strong，这句话还有“精力充沛的斯特朗”的双关之意）。在阿姆斯朗看来，佩带的励志腕带意义非凡，那个励志腕带意味着他的生命，暗示着他无坚不催的生命力，也是他不轻易言输的标志。 之后在每次参赛时都他都戴着这个黄色的励志腕带。

　　许多名人都有黄腕环情结。美国前总统克林顿、歌星博诺、影星布鲁斯·威利斯、罗宾·威廉斯、安吉丽娜·朱丽等人都佩戴黄腕环。在雅典召开的第28届奥运会上，也有不少运动员佩戴着黄腕环。

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