The Associated Press reports that Lance Armstrong rode with President Bush in Crawford to drum up more government support for cancer research.

Armstrong has been effective in raising funds and awareness. Financial statements (PDF) of the Lance Armstrong Foundation report an increase of Net Assets of $24 million for 2004, to $36 million total. Corporate sponsors include Nike, PowerBar, Dasani, and others. LanceArmstrong.com boasts that 80% of funds go to research.

The National Cancer Institute received $4.87 million from the federal budget this year and is asking for $6.17 million for next year.

We’ve bought a LiveStrong bracelet ourselves. Doesn’t it seem funny that an organization that funds cancer research more and better than the federal government is asking an institution $400 billion (link dead) in the red for more funds?