Channel 4 & Cancer Research UK To Launch ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ In The UK - Stand Up To Cancer

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Posted August 23, 2012

Channel 4 & Cancer Research UK To Launch ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ In The UK

Channel 4 & Cancer Research UK To Launch ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ In The UK

August 23, 2012 – Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK are joining forces to launch ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ in the UK. Television, music and film stars will come together in October in a new national fundraising event to galvanise the public in the fight against cancer. The on-air season will build over a whole week on Channel 4, culminating in a live fundraising entertainment extravaganza.

The season will deliver a range of Channel 4’s factual entertainment and health programming and feature some of C4’s biggest names including Alan Carr, Davina and Dr. Christian Jessen.

Since Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) began in the USA in 2008 with a roadblock telecast across ABC, CBS and NBC, it has harnessed the support of the entertainment industry to raise more than £100 million for cancer research focused on bringing more effective and less toxic treatments to patients quickly.  SU2C is an Entertainment Industry Foundation initiative.

The third US-based telecast will take place on Sept. 7, 2012. Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who has been involved with SU2C for years, is a co-executive producer of that programme.

Paltrow will also participate in a September launch event in London where the full line-up and more details about the Channel 4 season will be revealed.

Gwyneth Paltrow says: “Like so many people all over the world, I know what it’s like to lose a loved one to cancer; it took my Dad in the prime of his life. Stand Up To Cancer has the power to revolutionize the way we fight this disease, by uniting doctors, scientists and patients in groundbreaking research. This special broadcast will mark a wonderful milestone as SU2C evolves into a true global movement.”

Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4 will engage the UK public in a nationwide effort to get involved and donate – to show their support and raise millions for the fight against cancer.

Jay Hunt, Chief Creative Officer of Channel 4, says: “Sadly most of us – more than 1 in 3 – will be touched by cancer at some point in our lives. Stand Up To Cancer is about doing what Channel 4 does best – focusing attention on an important issue using entertainment and comedy. We hope to raise vital funds for trials that could save lives.”

Dr Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, says: “We want everyone in the UK to unite and stand up to this devastating disease.  We’ve made incredible progress in the last 40 years but there’s so much more to do.  It’s not just technology or knowledge that we need to win our fight to beat cancer – it’s funding – and every pound we raise is a step closer to achieving our goal to beat this disease. We are entering the ‘golden age’ of cancer research – but each and every one of us can stand up and make a difference right now to come together to raise vital funds for clinical research, accelerate progress and ultimately save more lives.”

In the run up to the televised event, Cancer Research UK will be urging the public to get involved and fundraise in unique and creative ways to help raise money for Stand Up To Cancer.

“Worldwide, cancer now takes 8 million lives each year, and experts fear that number will more than double by 2030,” says Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Co-Founder of Stand Up To Cancer.  “Reversing that trend requires a truly global movement, and we’re honoured to have Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 join in helping build it.”

“This collaboration will allow us to make an even greater impact in the world of cancer research, and engage the people of the UK in an inspiring initiative to end cancer’s reign as a leading cause of death,” says Stand Up To Cancer Executive Leadership Council member Pam Williams.

Funds raised through the Stand Up To Cancer campaign will go specifically towards the UK’s leading clinical research, ensuring that new treatments get to patients faster. UK-based researchers at hospitals, universities, charities and research institutes across the UK will be able to apply for grants from the Stand Up To Cancer fund through an open call for proposals. Reflecting the collaboration with the USA, 20 per cent of funds raised will support UK–US collaborative research to develop state-of-the-art new treatments to benefit patients here in the UK.

For up to date information please go to www.standuptocancer.org.uk or www.channel4.com/su2c

Channel 4 has commissioned Whizz Kid Entertainment to produce the central hub for the live fundraising show. Further confirmation of programming and other production companies taking part will follow.

Stand Up To Cancer US is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation – a US-based not-for-profit organization.

For media enquiries, please contact:

For Cancer Research UK please contact: Laura Peters on 020 3469 8367 or Laura.Peters@cancer.org.uk

For Channel4 related enquires please contact: Nikki Neate on 020 7306 5377 or nneate@channel4.co.uk

Notes to editors:

About Channel 4
• Channel 4 launched on 2nd November 1982 and is a publicly-owned, commercially-funded, public service broadcaster. It receives no public funding and all profit generated by commercial activity is directly reinvested back into the delivery of Channel 4’s public service remit to be innovative, experimental and distinctive.
• In addition to the main Channel 4 service, the portfolio includes E4, More4, Film4 and 4Music, as well as an ever-growing range of online activities that includes channel4.com, Channel 4’s bespoke video-on-demand service 4oD and standalone digital projects. Through its film arm Film4, Channel 4 is also a key supporter of British film making talent.
• Channel 4 is a major investor in the UK’s creative economy, working with around 300 creative companies from across the UK every year and investing significantly in training and talent development throughout the industry.

About Cancer Research UK
• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research
• The charity’s ground breaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.  This work is funded entirely by the public.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to beat cancer.

About Stand Up To Cancer (US show)
• In 2008 SU2C launched in the USA on 3 major networks & was the first ever non-emergency fundraising event to be simultaneously broadcast across several major networks
• In 2010 it aired on 18 US TV channels including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC
• SU2C is a programme of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, and utilises the assets of this industry to engage the public in unique ways
• To date over $180m has been pledged to SU2C to fund collaborative cancer research
• The American show is a 60-minute fundraising special bringing together music, movies, TV, live music performances, comedy and live science
• Stars such as Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, George Clooney, Leona Lewis, Rhianna, Mariah Carey, Will Smith, Beyoncé, Jennifer Aniston, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Rob Lowe, Scarlett Johansson, Kelly Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Neil Diamond, Delta Goodrem, Kris Kristofferson, Dave Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Cindy Crawford, Renée Zellweger, Vanessa Hudgens and Kareem Abdul Jabbar are just some of the talent who supported Stand Up To Cancer.

Whizz Kid Entertainment
• Whizz Kid Entertainment produces a range of high-quality programmes specialising in prime-time entertainment, ground-breaking live events, digital and arts programming. http://www.whizz-kid.tv

Cancer Research UK Sponsors
We are proudly supported by Tesco (our lead sponsor), BT, ScottishPower and TK Maxx.

About Tesco
• Tesco will be raising vital funds for clinical research through an in-store stock donation campaign, merchandise sales and staff and customer fundraising
• Tesco is committed to helping the nation fight cancer and since 2000 has raised over £30 million to help a range of UK cancer charities to deliver services in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for people in communities across the UK www.tesco.com
• In addition Cancer Research UK is Tesco Charity of the Year 2012 and together we hope to raise £10 million to fund 32 early diagnosis and detection research projects across the UK
• Tesco is also the lead partner for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life events series which it has been supporting for 11 years

About BT
• BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries.  Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services.  BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
• BT’s people and services have played an integral role in the operation of telethons since 1980. In 2012 we helped to raise £38.5 million for our charity partners through our telethon efforts. We will use our core expertise to provide infrastructure, network management, online giving platforms (MyDonate for Telethons and Appeals) for Stand Up To Cancer.
• BT is the official communications services partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. BT is also a sustainability partner of the Games and a Premier Partner of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
• In the year ended 31 March 2012, BT Group’s revenue was £18,897m with profit before taxation of £2,445m.
• British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.  BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.  For more information, visit www.btplc.com

About ScottishPower
• In 2012 ScottishPower announced a new three year relationship with Cancer Research UK. The Company aims to help raise over £5m for Cancer Research UK and to date has helped raise over £750,000 through its dedicated energy product and support for Race for Life events.
• ScottishPower’s Sponsorship of Stand Up to Cancer will provide a further platform for them to engage their employees and customers to continue to raise funds and awareness for Cancer Research UK through employee fun days and their customer communications.
• On the night of the telethon around 300 ScottishPower telephone operators will give up their time to man the phones throughout the live show to take pledges.
• ScottishPower is the Official Energy Sponsor for Race for Life events. For more information, visit http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/cancer-research-uk/

About TK Maxx
• Designer brands-for-less retailer TK Maxx will be raising vital funds for clinical cancer research through sales of merchandise
• TK Maxx has a proud history of supporting Cancer Research UK through Give Up Clothes for Good, the UK’s biggest and longest running charity clothing collection campaign raising money to help beat kids’ cancer. Since 2004 our partnership has raised more than £13 million
• TK Maxx is a designer brands-for-less retailer implementing a unique ‘off-price’ concept which originated in the US. It sells designer and high street brands of womenswear, menswear, homeware, childrenswear, gifts and accessories at up to 60% less than the recommended retail price (RRP). TK Maxx has over 240 stores across the UK or you can buy online at www.tkmaxx.com

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