Stand Up To Cancer is a new initiative created to accelerate groundbreaking cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives.  SU2C’s goal is to bring together the best and the brightest in the cancer community, encouraging collaboration instead of competition.  By galvanizing the entertainment industry, SU2C creates awareness and builds broad public support for this effort. 

 I don’t think there is anyone reading this who has not been affected by cancer, be it yourself, a family member, a friend….someone along the way, that each of us knows, who has struggled with this disease.  My mom and dad ,and my two sisters, all battled this disease and survived!  How blessed we have been!  But there are so many who have not been as fortunate.  It is for all of them, that I write this article.

 I first heard of SU2C when my local network channels aired this special (click here to watch), last September 5^th .  If you missed it, I strongly encourage you to watch it now so that you can feel the excitement in this initiative.  The opening remarks are:        

We used to have such wild dreams.  The kind that brought us together, made us a movement.  We dreamed we’d split the atom, walk on the moon, unlock our very genetic code.  To those who said “impossible”, “can’t happen”, “won’t happen”….we didn’t hear a word.  We stood up and we changed the world.  Stand up.  Stand up for everyone who can’t rise anymore.  One person every minute, one life in a moment, one life is taken by a disease that we can actually cure.  We can actually cure.  And in the time it’s taken to say these words, one more American has died.  Unforgiveable.  This is where the end of cancer begins…..when together we rise as one.  When we STAND UP TO CANCER!

 There are a couple of notable quotes in this video.  One is  when a scientist says “We as scientists, know that it’s no longer a matter of IF we can cure cancer, it’s a matter of WHEN.”   Another scientist says “It’s that feeling you get on a day when you know it’s going to rain…right before it rains, and you can feel it.  We can feel that in the field of Oncology; it’s about to rain.” 

 The whole idea behind this is that instead of having all of these scientists working on the cure for cancer at their own clinics, etc., and all vying for the same grant money, this foundation wants to create their own “dream teams” and put these brilliant people together to find the cure now.   There is such hope out there right now, that a cure can be found in our lifetime, and I for one, want to be a part of that.

 SU2C is launching a drive to collect 10,000 five dollar ($5.00) donations in four weeks, getting them $50,000 closer to ending cancer.  They have asked for help in spreading the word so that they can reach their goal. 

 Food for thought:  In 1938, an entertainer named Eddie Cantor, got on the radio and asked every citizen to send 10 cents to a new charity, devoted to curing polio.   So began the March of Dimes.   Nobody knows whose dime put the effort over the top and made the vaccine to stop polio possible but somebody did. 

 YOU can be a part of finding the cure for cancer by simply giving up on one latte, one movie, a magazine, a video game.  Your $5 could be the crucial donation that finally makes it possible to end cancer!  It’s as easy as clicking here   or for those of you who like to text, it’s as easy as texting the word STAND to 40202 and $5 will be added to your cell phone bill.  Be sure to “confirm”. 

 So, please, stand up with me, and be a part of finding the cure to cancer!  What a legacy we can leave!