Cancer Research UK has teamed up with Channel 4 to launch a new Comic Relief-style stand-up telethon, that will provide funding for organisations undertaking cancer research in the UK.
Stand Up to Cancer, founded by US charity the Entertainment Industry Foundation, has existed since 2008 in the USA, but it will be introduced to the UK this October. A week-long season of factual entertainment and health programming will provide a run-up to a live fundraising "extravaganza", Channel 4 announced this morning.
In the USA the event has raised more than £100m for cancer research focused on less toxic treatments. Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK chief executive, hopes that the event will encourage a similar boon in the UK: "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," he said.
Eighty per cent of the funds raised will be administered by Cancer Research UK to fund hospitals, universities, charities and research institutes which successfully apply for funding once an open call for proposals is made tomorrow.
The remaining 20 per cent of funds raised will support US-UK collaborative research to develop state-of -the-art treatments in the UK. This funding will be co-administered by Cancer Research UK.
The event invites obvious comparisons to the BBC's bi-annual Comic Relief telethon, which had its most successful fundraising year to date in 2011, raising £102m.
But a Channel 4 spokesperson said: "Stand Up To Cancer is a brand new UK fundraising initiative and is all about doing what Channel 4 does best - focusing attention on an important issue using entertainment and comedy."
Celebrities involved in the campaign include Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who is co-producer of the US version and will attend the official launch event in London in September, when the programme of events will be revealed. Local talent taking part include 'funny man' Alan Carr, presenter Davina McCall and Embarrassing Bodies' Dr Christian Jessen (pictured), all Channel 4 stalwarts.
Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation discussed expanding the programme to the UK: "Worldwide, cancer now takes 8 million lives each year, and experts fear that number will more than double by 2030. 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," she said.
