Nets band together to aid cancer research

An unprecedented collaboration among an alphabet of television networks will bring the fight against cancer to Canadians and Americans in the Stand Up to Cancer fundraiser on Sept. 5. beginning at 8 pm ET.

Pro bono, CTV, Global and Citytv will simulcast the fundraiser from our side of the border, while ABC, CBS and NBC will do their bit down south. Viewers will be encouraged by a gaggle of celebrities from film, music, television, sports and journalism to donate money online and via toll-free phone numbers.

The line-up of more than 50 stars will include Sally Field, Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, Salma Hayek, Charlize Theron, Casey Affleck, Forest Whitaker, Scarlett Johansson, Christina Applegate, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jennifer Aniston, Lance Armstrong and American Idol winner David Cook.

Intermittently throughout the broadcast, American news anchors Katie Couric, Charles Gibson and Brian Williams will speak with experts conducting cancer research and making potentially life-saving discoveries.

From Media in Canada