Armstrong meets with Stynes
Sporting and charity greats Lance Armstrong and Jim Stynes have met in Adelaide as the AFL star continues to battle cancer.
Armstrong is in Adelaide for his third straight Tour Down Under, which will be the American’s last overseas bike race before he ends his career.
Stynes, the Melbourne president and 1991 Brownlow Medallist, has kept a low public profile since he was honoured at last September’s Brownlow Medal ceremony.
He continues to undergo treatment for cancer, while Armstrong nearly died from the disease in the mid-1990s.
After beating the illness, the Texan won a record seven-straight Tour de France titles from 1999.
On Friday, Armstrong announced on his hugely-popular Twitter feed: “just had a great chat with Jim Stynes.
“He’s hanging tough and changing lives every day through @wearereach.”
Armstrong was referring to the Reach Foundation, which Stynes helped establish.
The pair met in Adelaide for half an hour on Friday, discussing their respective charity foundations and their experiences with cancer.
Reach is a Melbourne-based charity which works with teenagers from various backgrounds.
Since beating testicular cancer, Armstrong has become known internationally almost as well for his charity work as his cycling.
His Livestrong Foundation is a high-profile charity that raises money and awareness for cancer sufferers.
Stynes has remained Melbourne president since being diagnosed with cancer in July, 2009.
He has played a key role in the AFL club’s ongoing recovery from massive financial debt over the last two years.
A warts-and-all TV documentary, screened in Australia last year, graphically detailed his cancer fight.
Stynes has needed surgery to remove tumours from his brain.
While promoting the documentary, Stynes said he was keen to meet Armstrong.
Like many people battling cancer, he has read Armstrong’s best-selling autobiography, It’s Not About The Bike.
The book details Armstrong’s early life, his illness and then the first of his Tour wins.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- AFL, Cycling, Jim Stynes, Lance Armstrong
THE ROAR ON