# Livestrong yellow wristband

> A $1 cancer-support wristband spread from cycling into fashion and rival cause campaigns.

- Owner: Lance Armstrong Foundation (now Livestrong Foundation); Nike (launch partner)
- Kind: Product
- Sector: Politics & civic
- Seed date: 2004-05-17
- Milestone date: 2005-02-11
- Date basis: Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak.
- Spread Score: 33 (Niche, provisional), v1.3
- Mechanics: Identity badge, Visible in use, Dupe economy, Resale market, Sell-out loop

## Summary

Nike and LAF sold yellow bands for $1. Retail shortages, TV appearances and public wear carried them beyond cycling. Cause-band copies followed. Nike ended its product partnership in 2013; Livestrong kept selling bands.

## Timeline

- Apr 2004 — Lance Armstrong Foundation (Retail) — LAF put prototype bands bearing a Nike swoosh at guests' plates during an Austin gala.
- 2004-05-17 — Nike / Lance Armstrong Foundation (Retail) — Nike and LAF began selling yellow Live Strong wristbands for $1 online and at Niketown.
- 2004-07-23 — Steve / Modulator (Open web) — Steve urged readers to order backordered bands; a comment thread later filled with requests for stock.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/livestrong-wristband

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Livestrong yellow wristband.” Case HIS-01463. Spread Score v1.3: 33/100. Updated 2026-10-23. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-01463