Stand Up 2 Cancer (SU2C) has announced the date of its third telethon to raise funds for the fight against cancer. The major television networks, including ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, will simultaneously broadcast the star-studded event on September 7. The telethon will raise funds that will accelerate innovative cancer research that is critically important for finding a cure for mesothelioma and other incurable cancers.Cancer research is expensive and time-consuming, and for research related to a rare disease, such as mesothelioma, the costs can be even higher. As a result, many researchers rely on funding from public and private sources to run their clinical trials and to ensure continuous funding throughout the project. Events such as this not only bring in much-needed funds, but they also raise awareness of the devastation cancer causes to patients and their families.
According to SU2C, one in two men and one in three women in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, and almost 8 million people worldwide die from cancer each year. Like many others, the two producers of this year's show have been touched by cancer. The event will be co-produced by Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Emmy Award winner Joel Gallen.
"This broadcast has become a global call-to-action for all those touched by cancer," Paltrow said. "Like so many people, I know what it's like to lose a family member to this disease, and I'm honored to stand up in my father's memory."
The show, like the other two events held in 2008 and 2010, will feature live performances of recording artists and celebrities from film, television and sports who will present key information to provide viewers with insights into cancer. Participation in the 2012 SU2C broadcast will be announced throughout the summer.
"Music and its ability to heal, unite and motivate will play a central role in this year's show, as will the stories of people affected by cancer and how SU2C is changing their lives," co-producer Gallen said.
3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Many of these patients rely on research and clinical trials offered by universities and hospitals for treatments that may not otherwise be available. Currently, there is no known cure for mesothelioma.
100% of the monies raised during the telethon go directly to grants supporting cancer research.
One of the 'dream teams' funded in 2008, the Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Chip Dream Team, developed a chip to allow physicians to identify the genetic "fingerprint" of a patient's cancer cells. This discovery promotes the use of targeted and personalized treatments for cancer patients. As personalized treatment gains popularity, mesothelioma patients can benefit greatly as the disease symptoms, and thus the necessary treatment, can differ dramatically across patients.
