Stand Up To Cancer has joined forces with Build in London for a special series of live interviews focusing on peoples cancer stories. With the help of some of the nation’s best-loved celebrities, each episode shines a light on the impact of cancer as the celebrities explore how it’s affected their own lives.
Hosted by presenter and journalist Kate Thornton, the series features Kirstie Allsopp, Denise Lewis, Kimberly Wyatt, Dr Alex George, Michelle Heaton, Nikki Tapper, Tyger Drew-Honey, Niki & Sammy and Jay McGuiness.
Kirstie Allsopp said: “My mother was first diagnosed with cancer when I was 17 and she lived with it on and off for another 25 years. So my personal experience of it is hugely positive in terms of the changes I saw in cancer treatment over that time with mum.”
“[A cancer diagnosis now] is far, far more positive than it ever was before. The fight is up and running and there is so much amazing research – and what Stand Up To Cancer is doing is funding that research.”
Kirstie appealed to viewers to support this year’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign: “I think the important thing is the energy of this campaign. You just think ‘I am going to do this thing which is a challenge for me’. There is no idea too extreme that you cannot use to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer. People do all sorts of fantastic things. Anything that is fun and full of fighting spirit, that’s what we want.”
Kate Thornton said: “Amazing progress has been made in the last two decades in the fight against cancer, but there are some really shocking facts. Every 2 minutes in the UK someone will be diagnosed with cancer and 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lifetime.
“The message of this year’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign is ‘it’s payback time’. We’re sick of it. We want payback for all the loved ones you’ve taken, for the people that are living with cancer every day.”
Stand Up To Cancer is a joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 that brings the UK together to accelerate progress in life-saving cancer research. The charity funds research that takes breakthroughs from the labs and turns them into brand new tests and treatments for cancer patients. More than £38 million has been raised in the UK to date, funding 35 trials and projects involving more than 8000 cancer patients and supporting one international Dream Team.
The BUILD Series brings its audience closer to today’s culture, drawing the biggest names in entertainment, fashion, business and more, to its London and New York studios.
We loved SU2C and BUILD teaming up to do this series of open, honest and emotional conversations about Cancer, as Kate Thornton said everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer and 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lifetime. So it’s so important that people talk about cancer.
What do you think about the videos? Let us know @CelebMix!