The September 7, 2012 Stand Up To Cancer one-hour special broadcast on every major network has collected an outstanding $81 million in pledges thus far. Celebs came together for the event which was created to help generate interest and funding for “ground-breaking research and bring new treatments to patients as quickly as possible, including pediatric cancer patients through the creation of a new pediatric cancer research ‘Dream Team.'”
 
The 2012 Stand Up To Cancer broadcast event included appearances by Gwyneth Paltrow (who also executive produced), Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Michael Douglas, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Samuel L. Jackson, Tobey Maguire, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Justin Timberlake, Sofia Vergara, Robert Pattinson and SU2C co-founder Katie Couric. Additionally, celebs including Simon Baker, Jordana Brewster, Diem Brown, Kobe Bryant, Ty Burrell, Dana Delany, Rocco DiSpirito, Gabrielle Douglas, Donald Faison, Missy Franklin, Jennie Garth, Max Greenfield, Chelsea Handler, Marg Helgenberger, Felicity Huffman, Stacy Keibler, Minka Kelly, Joe Manganiello,Jillian Michaels, Masi Oka, Robert Pattinson, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Ana Maria Polo, Ray Romano, Eric Stonestreet, Alison Sweeney, and Ethan Zohn manned the phone bank and participated in supporting SU2C in other capacities.
 
Musical performances were provided by Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Alicia Keys and Tim McGraw.
 
Commenting on the show’s success, co-executive Producer Gwyneth Paltrow said: “I am deeply moved by and proud of this broadcast. This is very personal for me, as it is for so many of us. Our program honored all those we’ve lost to the disease, emboldened those brave survivors among us to continue fighting, and highlighted SU2C’s remarkable progress in cancer research. The results are tangible, and the potential for breakthroughs in the coming years is very exciting.”
 
“Stand Up To Cancer is a true force in advancing innovative cancer research, powered by the generosity and passion of millions of people who want to see this disease finally brought to its knees. Together, we are helping some of the world’s best scientists make meaningful progress,” added SU2C co-founder Katie Couric.
 
Donations are still be accepted online at www.su2c.org or at 1-888-90-STAND (78263). If you missed the broadcast, you can catch it at www.hulu.com/stand-up-to-cancer
 
More on the Stand Up To Cancer Initiative [Courtesy of SU2C]:
 
The show helps fund SU2C’s groundbreaking approach to translational research, accelerating the delivery of new therapies to patients by getting them from the “bench to the bedside” as quickly as possible. SU2C brings together scientists from different disciplines across various institutions to work collaboratively, rather than competitively. One hundred percent of the public’s donations go directly to cancer research.
 
Recognizing the desperate need for more research focused on pediatric cancers, SU2C and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation — a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives — will issue a “call for ideas” to the scientific community for a collaborative pediatric cancer Dream Team within the next two weeks.
 
Every day, cancer kills 1,600 Americans – one person every minute. This year, more than 550,000 Americans and almost 8 million people worldwide will die of some form of cancer. SU2C was founded on the belief that we are at a pivotal juncture with the potential for transformative progress in cancer research because of two trends: breakthroughs made in our understanding of the basic science of cancer, and technological advances that enable us to translate them into new treatments. Today’s cancer researchers need additional funding to fulfill the promise of life-saving discoveries, and Stand Up To Cancer engages the public to support their work.
 
More than $260 million has been pledged to Stand Up To Cancer since its 2008 launch. SU2C has made grants to seven multi-disciplinary “Dream Teams” of researchers as well as to 26 young innovative scientists who are undertaking high-risk, potentially high-reward projects to end the reign of cancer as a leading cause of death in the world today. Eighty-five institutions are currently involved.
 
Source: Stand Up To Cancer