Donations up 25 times for Lance's charity

Updated: August 24, 2012, 7:39 PM ET

By Darren Rovell | ESPN

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If the donations to the Lance Armstrong Foundation are going to tail off, it certainly didn't happen on Day 1 after Armstrong decided to stop fighting charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career.

The foundation's CEO Doug Ulman told ESPN on Friday night that unsolicited donations were up almost 25 times as compared to Thursday.

Lance Armstrong - Career Highlights

• Seven-time Tour de France winner
• Four-time ESPYS Best Male Athlete
• Four-time AP Male Athlete of the Year
• 2002 SI Sportsman of the Year

Most Tour de France Wins - All Time

Cyclist	Country	Wins
Lance Armstrong	U.S.	7
Miguel Indurain	Spain	5
Bernard Hinault	France	5
Eddy Merckx	Belgium	5
Jacques Anquetil	France	5
-- ESPN Stats & Information

Ulman said $3,200 came in on Thursday to the organization's website, in the range of what it receives on a typical day. On Friday as of 4:30 p.m. ET, Ulman noted $78,000 in donations.

The number of people donating increased as well.

On Thursday, the foundation had 45 people donating through the website. On Friday, hours after the US Anti-Doping Agency said it had enough information to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour De France titles, 411 people felt compelled to donate.

Merchandise sales were up almost three-fold, from $4,000 in gear sold on Thursday to $11,000 sold on Friday.

"We've heard from our strongest supporters," Ulman said. "And while they are frustrated with the outcome, they are relieved to put this behind them and get back to business."

Every sponsor of Armstrong or the Foundation chose to publicly stand by him and the organization on Friday. Nike, Anheuser-Busch, Oakley, Johnson Health Tech, Sporting KC, FRS, Honey Stinger and American Century Investments all issued statements of support.

Over the past 15 years, the Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised more than $470 million, more than any athlete charity in history.

Darren Rovell is ESPN's sports business insider.

Darren Rovell | email

ESPN.com Sports Business reporter

• ESPN.com's sports business reporter since 2012; previously at ESPN from 2000-06
• Appears on SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and with ABC News
• Formerly worked as analyst at CNBC