Spring Break
Wristbands prove point plus form fashion trend
Message lost to some and viewed as fad
Megan Jurinek / Campus Reporter
Issue date: 2/21/05 Section: News
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Angelman Syndrome (AS) causes children not to develop properly. Children with AS do not develop cognitively, and their speech is limited. In most cases "Angels" language consists of only four to five unintelligible words.
These children also suffer from significant movement or balance problems and seizures.
"What is truly an eye opener is when your child is admitted to a large children's hospital and the nurse and even some doctors have not heard of AS," said John Heinzmann, Andrew's father.
"Since the diagnosis, the whole family has encountered people who have asked about Andrew," Heinzmann said. "Our family has done all we can think of to increase awareness."
As active members of The Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF), Heinzmann and his family have developed the idea of selling AS bands, similar to the "Livestrong" bracelets.
The bracelet idea came from Heinzmann's eighth-grade daughter, Kimberly.
"Her friends all wear some form of silicone bands and the popularity is really very impressive," Heinzmann said. "The bands are actually a fashion statement to so many kids."
Students all over Eastern's campus are wearing them in all different colors with all different sayings.
"I think it's a fad," said Kelsey Maynard, a junior recreation administration major. "It's funny how you can find them at the dollar store now, and they seem to have lost all their meaning."
Other students have also felt the same way about the wrist bands.
"They were meant to signify something for cancer survivors, but it has lost meaning and become more of a fad," said Matt Szparkowski, a sophomore psychology major. "I've met people who don't even know what they mean, but they wear them anyway because everyone else does."
Even retail stores are selling them. Szparkowski thinks the fad is disrespectful toward cancer survivors, but at the same time, they are benefiting from the money that is made when people buy the bracelets.
Claire's in Mattoon carries Belief Bands, similar to the AS and Livestrong bracelets.
"They are not as thick, but they are similar, and read 'Trust and Love'," said Melissa Benton, a manager at Claire's.
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