Will you stand up to cancer?

My aunt Rachel's cancer has returned. She is the youngest of seven siblings on my dad's side of the family. A family who has felt its share of heartache and suffering. She is still fighting and will continue to battle this disease.

Rather than go into the details of her cancer or of the other members of my family who have been affected by cancer, I want to take this opportunity to ask a simple question that is being asked this week:

What do you stand for?

On Friday, September 5, 2008, The Stand Up to Cancer telethon will air at 8pm et/pt, 7pm ct on ABC, CBS and NBC.

What is it?
From the site:

...over 50 of the most renowned personalities in TV, film, sports and music will come together to make history. In an unprecedented television event, NBC, ABC, and CBS will simultaneously devote 1 hour of commercial-free prime time to raise funds for the fight against cancer.

Why?

Cancer takes one person every minute. One life in a moment. They are our brothers, our sisters, our fathers and mothers, our husbands and wives, our best friends, our children, ourselves. Every day in America 1500 people die and yet the means to save them are literally within our reach. To wait any longer for someone else to save our lives and the lives of those we love is unforgivable.

I first read about the Stand Up to Cancer project on Tara Settembre's blog where she explained her involvement with the movement's viral video:



Aside from the personal attachment I have to the project, there is an inherent professional curiosity that allows me to have a positive and hopeful view of using social media for good works.

What can you do?
Check out the SU2C YouTube Channel. Follow SU2C on Twitter. Consider a donation.

My aunt is a fighter.
She can't fight alone.
She shouldn't have to.
Have you or a loved one been affected by cancer?
Will you stand up to cancer?