News, ABC, NBC, CBS Join Forces to Fight Cancer.

Billie81 · New User Joined: 26 May 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Tennessee

In an unprecedented collaboration, all three major television networks will donate one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime this fall in an effort to raise money for cancer research.

The broadcast, "Stand Up To Cancer," will air on Sept. 5 on ABC, CBS and NBC and will feature live performances by recording artists and movie and film stars who will, along with the evening news anchors from each of the networks, deliver information about potentially life-saving cancer research.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the country after heart disease.

In commenting on why ABC decided to join the cause, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney-ABC Television Group, stated "Everyone in our country has been touched by cancer in some way, shape or form. The thought that we could, in one hour of television, make a true difference in the fight against this disease was both exciting and inspiring."

"The statistics are staggering," said Charles Gibson, anchor of ABC News's "World News Tonight with Charles Gibson." "Cancer claims one person every minute every day in the United States."

"Every year in this country, more than half a million people die from this disease," said Gibson, who took over the evening newscast after ABC News' Peter Jennings lost his battle with lung cancer in August 2005. "Worldwide, cancer kills more than six million people annually."

The American Cancer Society predicts that 1,437,180 new cancer cases will be diagnosed this year alone.

Money raised by "Stand Up To Cancer", a coalition of organizations from the scientific, medical and entertainment communities seeking to fight cancer in innovative ways, will be used for cancer research and treatments.

"What is smart about this organization is that there have been various wars on cancer launched in the past and most of them have done it in an approach to a single cause of cancer," said Gibson. "[The American Association for Cancer Research] is being very bright in that they're going to spread the money around to various approaches."

As much as 20 percent of the money raised will go toward less mainstream research, added Gibson.

Katie Couric, anchor of the "CBS Evening News," said in a press release that new research will make a huge difference to those affected by cancer.

"Cancer touches us all," said Couric, who lost her husband Jay Monahan to colon cancer in 1998. "For people struggling with this disease, or those who will be diagnosed, scientific breakthroughs can be a matter of life or death – literally."

"We want everyone to know that they can make a difference in this fight," added Couric.

"Stand Up To Cancer" believes that it is the lack of funding – not the scientific knowledge – that is preventing the advancement of cancer treatment and prevention.

"Not only has cancer touched all of our media organizations in profound ways, but it has touched each of us personally," said anchor of NBC's "Nightly News" Brian Williams.

"This extraordinary broadcast will serve a number of purposes – we'll share vital information with our viewers and hopefully raise funds that are so critical in the fight against this insidious disease," Williams added.

In addition to the broadcast, "Stand Up To Cancer" is launching an interactive website as well as a public service announcement campaign to further educate the public about cancer.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1402

Thanks for this posting! I had not heard of this effort.

I hope it isn't all focused on the same old cancers that have had tons of money for research poured into them so that their survival rates have sky-rocketed over the years (which is a good thing) and will provide for the neglected and poorly funded cancers where survival rates have stagnated for decades.

I'll read the link. Thanks again for posting.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

simplyklb

My understanding is for all cancers. It's time we headed for a cure for all types of cancers.

Kristi
_________________
Dad - Andy, 70, diagnosed with SCLC in May 2008
2/20/38 - 10/15/08 Fly high, Dad!
Mom - Jackie, 67, diagnosed with NSCLC in May 2008

dano

wouldn't you know
the number one and two killers in the US and I get them both, lol well at least I got them in the right order, I came down with heart disease first. lol
_________________
54 year old male in Hawaii
Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV
with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08
Currently on chemo treatments every 3 weeks
with Alimta
and taking Lovenox for blood clots
Now back to work full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

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