Last night was marked historic as 3 broadcast stations featured the STAND UP TO CANCER telethon.  It was truly an event to remember. Over 60 celebrities, as well as presidential nominees, John McCain and Barack Obama voiced their support for the fight against cancer.  It was a beautiful thing to see so many in support of eradicating a war that adults, children, and families of the world have been battling for decades.  This war is not one that we can ignore, for it is happening within the walls of not only our own homes, but also in the homes of our neighbors, relatives and friends.

The presentation was supported with statistics, personal stories, and research.  Cancer kills 550,000 Americans each year, and six million people worldwide each year.  Cancer survivor, Lance Armstrong, put it strikingly into perspective; ”That’s the equivalent of 9/11 every two days.”  Tales of real life stories were read through the expressions of celebrities including Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner, and images of beautiful, bald, beaming children were featured on the screen.  It was hard to not be moved.

Further enhancing the cause was the JUST STAND UP song which featured over 10 female artists including Beyonce, Sheryl Crow, and Carrie Underwood.  The lyrics are powerful and as you hear this collaboration, I would imagine any cancer patient could be empowered to indeed stand up and fight instead of giving up.

Donate now, as the lines will be open for the next couple of weeks.  But, more importantly, there are also other ways to stop cancer and to stand up to it.  Some mentioned are: quit smoking or don’t start in the first place, manage your STRESS, write to Congress and demand that cancer be made a national priority, tell women you know - your wife or your mom - to get a mammogram, get a colonoscopy … now, push the men in your life to get a prostrate exam, get an annual skin exam, join an advocacy group, cut back consumming red meat, exercise, avoid refined sugar and trans fat, add anti-cancer food to your diet such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, and lastly, take your loved ones in treatment and support them in the fight.

The STAND UP TO CANCER telethon could be perhaps the beginning of a movement and progress to reach the goal of finding a cure.  Be a part of this movement and make it a part of your own movement.  Learn from the courage and strength of the survivors.  Read the statistics and the facts.  Support the research.  Alongside our relatives and friends, in memory of our deceased loved ones; if we could all just stand up.  Will you?

So, what are your stories? In my eyes, cancer patients and survivors are heroes. What can we learn from each other about our own personal heroes? You can leave a comment here or visit our forum.  Voice your opinions and support the fight.