Lance Armstrong despite all the doping charges he faces is a good person. He has done more harm than good despite his doping charges.
First, this is because he is the founder of an organization called Livestrong Foundation. This foundation supports people with cancer and not only a specific type of cancer but all types of cancer in general. He started the foundation because he had testicular cancer but survived from it. Through this foundation, Livestrong has raised millions of dollars that cancer patients use for treatment. These funds help the cancer patients to manage the disease better since it involves treatment that is over a long period and expensive. The organization has gel a wristband that cancer survivors, celebrities, and supporters wear on their wrists all over the world with the main aim of uniting everybody in combating the disease. This organization helps many people worldwide.
Lance uses his winnings from the races plus donations to fund the organization. This shows good in him. This is because if it were for another ordinary person what he/she wins from a race would go to fulfilling of personal interests other than the interests of the public in general. Lance sacrifices his money for the health and well-being of people suffering with cancer. If it were, another person such sacrifice is not possible to attain.
Human beings known for the traits of being selfish and self-centered and only caring for the ones close to them. Human beings only care for themselves and the ones close to them, which is a very bad thing. Lance defies these traits by not being selfish and self-centered. He cares for people whom he has never even met or is not even close to by providing them with funds to help them with the cancer disease. He is not selfish since he generously spends his wealth from racing to help people. These are just only characteristics of a person who is good.
Secondly, Lance does a bad thing that eventually leads to good. Lance cheats by using performance-enhancing drugs that assists him to dominate the Tour de France. His dominating of the Tour de France is an inspiring story that gives hope to many who have cancer since he himself is getting better after suffering with testicular cancer. The inspiration act itself is a good thing. This is because he motivates people to keep on fighting the disease, which makes many people lose hope in living. Acts like these one of Lance Armstrong only comes from a good person and not a bad one.
Lance uses drugs that not because he is addicted to them unlike others but for sake of helping others. The drugs improve his performance that makes him a celebrity in the racing world. He uses his celebrity status to create more awareness of the need to help those people suffering from cancer. This shows how such a person is dedicated to doing good. Lance is one of the good people.
Well although Lance seems to be defiant denial and arrogant, there is an inner place for good in him. This is because for one to go through the jaws of cancer and turn every experience into a positive wave –like idea that sweeps everybody into it, requires someone who has good in him.
In general Lance Armstrong is a good person who although all the media criticism and doping charges has done more good deeds than bad deeds.
Works Cited
Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins. Every Second Counts. Broadway Books 2003.
Vertuno, Jim. "Armstrong coming out of retirement for Tour.” USA Today Associated Press 23 July 2012.
