Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong blazed through the streets of Shorewood along the side of Governor Jim Doyle with one goal in mind: passing the Breathe Free Wisconsin Act (BFW). With the support of other Wisconsin politicians such as Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and State Representative Sheldon Wasserman, Armstrong and Doyle came to the Oak Crest Tavern on Tuesday March 4 to make speeches supporting the act.

An intimate setting captured the mood of the speeches as the predominantly student audience listened to the guest speakers.  Upon entering the tavern, “Livestrong” bracelets and “Breathe Free Wisconsin” stickers were dispersed to the small crowd of guests.

Jan Zehren, intermediate school teacher and member of the North Shore Tobacco Free Coalition, found the students’ attendance important because “they were able to hear the message, which can lead them to take a stand and get involved with the fight against tobacco.”

She continued by saying: “I was pleased that Shorewood students were there.”

Doyle and Barrett alike were pleased with the student turn-out as well. “We’re glad to see students here, getting involved with this issue,” stated Doyle.

This piece of legislation proposes a prohibition of smoking in indoor environments throughout Wisconsin. With the help of the BFW Act, restaurants and taverns will be smoke-free. The impetus behind this ban is a desire to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.

“A lot of times, my friends and I will make plans away from certain restaurants to avoid smoke,” said Ross Murten, a UW-Milwaukee student who attended the rally.

As people become more able to enjoy their meals, people who work in the public establishments will be offered a cleaner and healthier working environment.

“Workers should not be subjected to poor health conditions such as smoky atmospheres,” Armstrong stated.  “They are just trying to do their job, and deserve proper health standards.”

Oak Crest Tavern is one of the few smoke-free public locations in Shorewood, along with North Shore Bistro and Juan Pedro?s.

Those who oppose this act fear that it violates their right to pursue a legal activity. Some view this violation of rights fear as a false issue.

“Yes, you can smoke, but you can’t affect other people,” said Jane Peterson, North Shore Health Department Director.

For those who fear that this act will be a detriment to businesses, Lance claims that “researchers at Harvard University have found “no negative changes.”

Mayor Tom Barrett sees BFW as a catalyst that will “balance the rights of smokers and non-smokers.”

Addressing this exact issue, Lance Armstrong stated in his speech that he was “here as a visitor; not as someone wanting to trample someone’s rights.”

He continued, “I come as a cancer survivor, cancer advocate and someone who knows the issue very well.” Prior to winning his seven consecutive Tour de France titles, Armstrong battled testicular cancer.

“I have devoted my life to this issue [cancer],” Armstrong stated. He served on the Presidential Cancer Panel for several years.

Mayor Barrett cites a statewide approach to this act as “very important.” He said, “The statewide approach would block any confusion between different communities.”

Tobacco use has been known to be a leading cause of death for many years. It can lead to fatal diseases such as lung cancer and esophageal cancer.

“The disease does not see race, gender or age and it will strike when you are least expecting it,” stated Armstrong.

Ex-smoker, Jason Derby of Kenosha, attended the event as an athlete who beat a disease as well. Derby beat Lyme disease and is a supporter of the purposed legislation.

“I kicked the habit,” he said of his addiction to tobacco. “I have kids, and I don’t want to see them growing up in a smoking environment.”

If the bill is passed, Wisconsin will be number 23, chronologically, on the growing list of smoke-free states.

“Why be the fiftieth state in the country to do this?” asked Doyle. “With all due respect to Nebraska, it’s pretty hard to believe that Nebraska is passing a ban before we do.”

Doyle cited “a strong tavern league” as a factor into Wisconsin’s tardiness with this ban. If BFW goes into effect, after June 2009, Wisconsin will be smoke free.

Barrett, too, would like Wisconsin to be smoke free at a sooner date.

Doyle, Barrett and Armstrong are all confident in the passage of the BFW. “It’s not a matter of ‘will this happen?’ it’s a matter of when,” Doyle said.

“We’ll come back again if we have to,” Armstrong added.