Celebrities unite for Stand Up To Cancer

NEWS
CELEBRITIES UNITE FOR
STAND UP TO CANCER

A stellar line-up of TV, radio and comedy stars, including Nick Grimshaw, Charlene White, Adam Hills, Joel Dommett, Robert Rinder, Ade Adepitan and Gizzi Erskine, have joined forces to speak candidly about their cancer experiences and launch this year’s Stand Up To Cancer. The celebrities share how the disease has affected their lives in a moving film, revealing personal stories of close friends and family that have been diagnosed with cancer.

Nick Grimshaw, TV and radio presenter, whose father died of bladder cancer in 2016, said: “I’m standing up to cancer because it’s something that’s very close to me and to my family. Losing my dad was incredibly painful and I want to be part of the fight to beat this disease. Researchers are leading the way, constantly developing new ways to beat cancer, but they can’t do this vital work without our support. By standing up together, we can all make a real difference in this fight.”

Reflecting on what kept him going during this difficult time, Nick added: “Speak to your friends and family as often as you can to check everyone’s alright. It’s important to surround yourself with people you love.”

Adam Hills, presenter of Channel 4’s The Last Leg, said: “I‘m standing up to cancer for my dad who dealt with cancer for so much of his life - first stomach cancer, then leukaemia. I’m standing up for him and for all the people going through cancer who share their stories with bravery, with humility, with courage. Scientists are making huge strides in this battle and by raising crucial funds we can all fight against cancer.”

Opening up about how he dealt with his father’s diagnosis, Adam said: “Whenever he had therapy, he’d just do this little dance and sing in a high note. And even right to the very end we still, as a family, ended on a high note. So, I think the most important thing you can do is to just be there for your loved ones.”

Charlene White, TV presenter and Loose Women panellist, said: “I lost my mum in my early twenties from bowel cancer. I remember the moment she told me she had cancer when we were stood in our kitchen, making Sunday dinner. Soon, my new normal became doing homework on her hospital bed with my brother and sister. Despite it all, mum tried her best to push through the pain and be the best mum to us that she could possibly be. I’m standing up to cancer because I don’t want any other young family to go through what we went through.”

Criminal barrister and TV personality, Robert Rinder, underlined the need for increased funding so that the “brightest and best minds” can work together to beat cancer, while comedian and presenter, Joel Dommett, said that he wants to “help change the odds for people diagnosed with cancer so that more people will survive in the future.”

Research projects funded by Stand Up To Cancer include the development of new treatments that use viruses to fight cancer, clinical trials testing potentially more effective ways to deliver radiotherapy and improved surgical techniques for bowel cancer. To date, more than £84 million has been raised in the UK, funding 59 clinical trials and projects involving over 19,000 cancer patients across the country.

The Stand Up To Cancer campaign will continue throughout September and October and culminate in an awe-inspiring night of TV on Channel 4. There are lots of easy ways that you can get involved, from fundraising, donating or showing your support in a t-shirt.

Now is the time to Stand Up To Cancer.