Stand Up To Cancer is an initiative that started in order to help speed-up groundbreaking cancer research that will provide new therapies to patients more quickly and save more lives.  SU2C’s purpose is to bring together everyone working in the field of cancer, encouraging them to collaborate in finding a cure for cancer.  This foundation looked to the entertainment community to help them create awareness and build public support for this effort.

I can’t imagine there is anyone reading this that hasn’t been affected by cancer.  Have you been affected?  Has a family member or close friend?  I personally have had both of my parents and two sisters battle this disease and win!  Some reading this haven’t been that blessed!  I write this article for them! 

Almost a year ago to the day, September 5^th, 2008 , I heard of SU2C for the first timen when all of our local networks aired a special hosted by Patrick Swayze.  If you missed it, I strongly encourage you to watch it now so you can learn more about the initiative and get involved.  The opening remarks start with narration by Sidney Poitier and others:

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.  Unforgivable.  This is where the end of cancer begins…..when together we rise as one.  When we STAND UP TO CANCER!

There are other notable quotes in the video. A scientist is quoted as saying, “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 idea here is instead of having scientists working to cure cancer in their own facilities or clinics across the country (and all trying for the same grant money), this foundation wants to create their own “dream team” and put these remarkable people together to find the cure now.   I for one want to be part of this movement.  There is such hope right now, for a cure in our lifetime!

SU2C is launching a drive to collect 10,000 five dollar ($5.00) donations in 4 weeks, getting them $50,000 closer to ending cancer.  They are asking for your help in spreading the word so they can reach their goal.

Food for thought:  In 1938, an entertainer, 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.

Please consider a donation of $5.00.  Could you give up one latte, one movie, a magazine, a video game?  Your $5 could be the donation that puts the cancer effort over the top and helps put an end to cancer.  It’s as easy as clicking here or for those of you who prefer to text, you can text the word STAND to 40202 and $5 will be added to your cell phone bill.  Be sure to “confirm”.

Stand up with me!  Be a part in finding the cure for cancer!  What a legacy we can leave!

In the Oklahoma City area there are many worthwhile charities.  Support those you can.