Cancer driving force behind Armstrong's comeback

Lance Armstrong says fighting cancer is the driving force in his decision to race again.

The seven-time Tour de France winner shared a rain-soaked road north of Montreal on Friday with about 40 cyclists to promote awareness about the disease.

"As some of you may or may not know, I've decided to race again ... to talk about the global circumstances of this disease," said Armstrong, who wore a yellow jersey before his ride in the fundraiser. "It really starts here today in Quebec and in Canada. The disease doesn't discriminate. If it wants to come and get you, it will."

The 36-year-old cancer survivor told Vanity Fair this week he's fully certain he will compete in next summer's Tour de France.

Cyclists who joined Armstrong on Friday had to raise a minimum donation of $25,000. They included relatives of cancer survivors, including one whose wife died last month after a 13-year battle.

Armstrong will be in Montreal on Saturday to lend support to participants in a boat race.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-09-12-08 1358EDT