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Summary The foundation has raised nearly $500 million to help improve the lives of people with cancer.
Nowhere felt the impact of Lance Armstrongs charitable work more than Austin, Texas and residents here insisted the disgraced cyclists doping doesnt detract from his good deeds.I still support him, Adrian Cortez, who was riding his bike in Armstrongs adopted hometown, said Wednesday.While Cortez said it wasnt morally right for Armstrong to use banned performance-enhancing drugs, he said he thinks more about what he did for cancer and charitable causes and less about the trophies.Armstrong built the Livestrong foundation on the strength of his inspirational narrative of a cancer survivor who went on to achieve unparalleled cycling glory by winning seven Tour de France competitions.He stepped down as chairman on Wednesday to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career.The announcement came as sportswear firm Nike broke all ties with the Armstrong over seemingly insurmountable evidence of doping but said it would continue to support Livestrong.Armstrong still plans to the stage at a gala 15th anniversary celebration on Friday, Livestrong spokeswoman Rae Bazzarre told AFP. He will also remain an active board member.The foundation has raised nearly $500 million to help improve the lives of people with cancer, including $6.5 million from Armstrong and his family.Donations have actually risen by 5.4 percent since Armstrong announced on August 23 that he would no longer fight allegations from the US Anti-Doping Association, Bazarre said.The controversy also seems to have raised awareness of the foundations work as the number of people seeking its free cancer support services has increased 14 percent.Molly Sharpe had a simple explanation for why she still supports the foundation despite damming evidence that Armstrong -- who still denies doping -- cheated.Life is complicated, she said as she left an event at the elementary school across the street from Livestrongs headquarters.Its not like he took the money and spent it. He still did great things, said Chris Wright, who lives in a nearby condominium tower.But personal trainer Jessica Estrada said that shes worried the foundation will be tainted by the drug scandal.I hope it doesnt affect the foundation because regardless of his involvement in the drug scandal hes doing amazing things and helping people, said Estrada, whose father died in 2006 from leukemia.Leslie Lucinao, membership director for BikeTexas, said she is saddened by the doping scandal because it affects the cycling community.Even so, we believe in the mission. We dont really associate Lance Armstrong with Livestrong because we see the good work they do, said Lucinao, a kidney and breast cancer survivor.Other Armstrong fans said they were undeterred by the doping allegations which have long dogged the cycling star.It doesnt make a difference to me, said Morgan Williams, who was riding her bike to work at a transportation company and said she has lost friends and relatives to cancer.Hes a star. I hope you can say it from my mouth to his ears. Its probably a hard time for him.Mel Martell, who works at a hair salon across the street from Livestrong, said her friends and customers who work there have been under a lot of stress due to the scandal.They feel their jobs are in jeopardy, she told AFP.But a grey-haired employee who was walking into the Livestrong office said the foundations work represents a higher calling and employees will ensure it continues.Were fighters, he said, explaining that hed battled prostate cancer and many other foundation employees are also cancer survivors.
