Lance Armstrong Gives Monona the Yellow Jersey

Lance Armstrong on Wisconsin smoking bans.....


Wisconsinites must put up strong fight against smoking

By LANCE ARMSTRONG
June 10, 2008

I had the privilege of returning to Wisconsin for the Trek 100 last weekend. Being in Wisconsin always makes me think about how important Waterloo-based Trek has been to my cycling career for more than 10 years. The Wisconsin-built bikes helped me win seven Tour de France titles and bring excitement and attention to the cycling world. And I’m grateful that I can now help focus that attention on a cause even more vital to me: the war against cancer. My full-time job these days is the work of the Lance Armstrong Foundation - supporting cancer survivors and working to make cancer a national priority. And the state of Wisconsin has an opportunity to score a major victory in this fight and save countless lives.


I’m not a native of Wisconsin, nor do I pretend to be anything more than a humble visitor to your state. I speak as a two-term member of the President’s Cancer Panel, a sworn opponent of this disease and a father who wants kids in Wisconsin to have the same protection from secondhand smoke that my three children enjoy in Austin, Texas. I believe the choice facing the people of this great state is a life or death one that will affect generations to come.


When I last visited Wisconsin in March, I was honored to join Gov. Jim Doyle in speaking to a group of more than 1,000 enthusiastic and determined citizens from all walks of life, from all over the state, all in support of a statewide smoke-free bill. At the time, the Breathe Free Wisconsin Act had passed committees in both houses with strong bipartisan support but unfortunately, lawmakers never got the chance to vote on it. The bill was held hostage by a small handful of legislators until the session ended.


I believe this was just a temporary setback and I’m proud to see that the people of Wisconsin are not letting it slow them down.


Since my last visit, the cities of Eau Claire, Marshfield and Monona have passed smoke-free ordinances giving 90,000 more Wisconsin citizens protection from the dangers of secondhand smoke. The city of Middleton is lining up to do the same. And nearly 70 percent of Wisconsin voters support the idea of a smoke-free state; 78 percent think it’ll pass soon.
Here’s why that’s so important: Secondhand smoke is deadly. In Wisconsin, close to 4,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, more than half of whom die from the disease. What’s worse, lung cancer - while more deadly than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined - is almost entirely preventable. Eighty percent of all lung cancers are caused by smoking, both firsthand and secondhand.


Some say that customers who want to avoid exposure to this hazard shouldn’t go to establishments where smoking is allowed. But what about the employees at those businesses, the hard-working men and women who have to earn a living to support their families? Don’t they have a right to be protected?


I am proud to join the majority of people in this state in support of a historic and life-saving effort. Momentum is building, time is of the essence and I’m confident Wisconsin will reach the finish line.


(Lance Armstrong is a champion cyclist, a cancer survivor and founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.)