Look To The Stars News: Patrick Swayze

Chris Isaak To Perform At Evening With The Stars For Charity

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will present the 14th annual An Evening with the Stars gala on Saturday, October 22, at the elegant Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

The event will be hosted by Tony Potts, and feature a special performance by Chris Isaak. Among those attending are Mindy Kaling, Wolfgang Puck, Tom Sherak and Pancreatic Cancer Network spokesperson – and Patrick Swayze’s widow – Lisa Niemi Swayze.

An Evening with the Stars gala is dedicated to loved ones who have passed. The event also acknowledges the survivors, caregivers, volunteers, scientists, researchers, policy makers, donors and special friends of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Marlee Matlin And Dana Delany Stand Up For Their Fathers

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Marlee Matlin and Dana Delany have both paid tribute to their fathers to help raise awareness of Stand Up To Cancer.

“For people who are afraid to TALK about cancer, for people who are afraid to communicate with their loved ones about it, and for the people who want to pretend cancer doesn’t exist, either delaying diagnosis or not getting regular checkups, the consequences can be fatal,” said Marlee, whose father was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, in a post in the Huffington Post. "Doing nothing about cancer will kill you. That’s why in honor of my Dad this Father’s Day, I’m STANDING UP, encouraging men like my Dad to talk openly and freely when it comes to matters of health. It’s up to us to remind our Dads to get regular checkups, and if something just doesn’t feel right, to get to the doctor. Tell your Dad to make sure to deal with your family honestly about your fears. No one should ever be ashamed to cry. This Father’s Day, let’s remind our Dads that family and friends are probably the best weapons one could have against cancer. They can share the burden, potentially provide information and resources or just be there to hold your hand.

“I love you Dad. I want us to spend many, many more Father’s Days together. It may be true that silence is easy, but believe me when I say that when it comes to cancer, silence is the last thing the world will hear from me. You can bet on it.”

Dirty Dancing Voted Best Chick Flick In Oxfam Survey

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:00:00 +0000

British women have crowned Dirty Dancing – starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey – as their favourite chick flick for a girls’ night in, according to a survey for Oxfam, to mark the launch of Oxfam’s Have a Bit of a Do fundraising campaign.

The classic film was the top choice for 21% of those who have a favourite chick flick for a girl’s night in. Bridget Jones’s Diary – featuring Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant – came a close second with 19% of the vote while Pretty Woman and Sex and the City were joint third with 11%. Love Actually (also featuring Hugh Grant) came fifth in the race to be named the UK’s favourite film for a girls’ night in with 9%.

The survey also revealed a North-South divide when it comes to chick flicks. Women in the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber were most likely to choose Bridget Jones’s Diary as their favourite girly film, with those living in London, the South East and the South West opting for Dirty Dancing.

Patrick Swayze's Widow Launches Cancer Campaign

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Patrick Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, is launching a new pancreatic cancer campaign to mark the first anniversary of the star’s death.

On Tuesday, Niemi kick-started the charity drive for Be a Hero in the “Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer: Know it. Fight it. End it.”

The campaign leads up to National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November and will consist of a series of videos and messages from Mrs. Swayze among others. Supporters are encouraged to visit www.knowitfightitendit.org to learn how they can take action and be a hero in the fight against pancreatic cancer, such as contacting their elected officials to encourage them to co-sponsor the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, and uploading videos stories about the heroes in their life.

Stand Up To Cancer To Return With Second Celebrity Charity Telecast

Thu, 20 May 2010 20:45:00 +0000

Two years after an historic fundraising telecast and the start of a groundbreaking grassroots movement, Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) will return to primetime television on September 10, 2010, at 8PM EST & PST / 7PM CT, with a star-studded appeal to build continuing public support and donations for cutting-edge cancer research that translates at a rapid pace from the laboratory to treatments and technologies that benefit patients.

Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer and Brian Williams announced the upcoming show during individual live appearances on CBS’s “The Early Show,” ABC’s “Good Morning America” and NBC’s “TODAY” show, respectively. The three network evening news anchors — who will host the September 10th telecast, executive produced by Laura Ziskin — participated in an interview together last week, discussing the upcoming fundraising event as well as the encouraging progress of “Dream Teams” of researchers SU2C has funded to date. Portions of that interview, the first joint appearance by this group of anchors, also aired on the morning shows.

Stars Stand Up To Cancer On Demand

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Comcast Corporation and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) have joined together to create the first-ever video-on-demand (VOD) initiative Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand to broaden awareness and raise critical funds for innovative cancer research.

Debuting exclusively on Comcast beginning December 15th, Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand will feature an extraordinary library of musical entertainment including hundreds of music videos from many of the world’s biggest stars and groups.

Available for no additional cost to viewers in more than 18 million Comcast homes through March 14th, Stand Up 2 Cancer On Demand will feature more than 60 of the viewers’ favorite artists including Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band, Norah Jones, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Idina Menzel, Jack Johnson, Sting, Renée Fleming, Placido Domingo and other stars of the Metropolitan Opera.

Private Practice Cast Hosts Dinner To Honor Cancer Survivors

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Wolfgang Puck’s Spago Beverly Hills was the site for a special dinner to “Blow Out Cancer” and celebrate the lives of four courageous American Cancer Society survivors.

As the “Official Sponsor of Birthdays”, the American Cancer Society (ACS) teamed up with Golden Globe award winning creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and the cast of Private Practice to join the movement to create a world with more birthdays. ACS is committed to helping people take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early and increase cancer research efforts and treatment options.

Many cast members were in attendance, including Tim Daly (Dr. Pete Wilder), who stated that ACS, “…is an incredible charity that has made tremendous efforts in research, care, and prevention for so many years.”

Patrick Swayze's Charity Legacy

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Patrick Swayze has passed away after a long battle with cancer, aged 57.

The star – who was best known for his work in the films “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost”, as well as for his international hit “She’s Like The Wind” – was first diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in January 2008, and fought the disease bravely until his death yesterday.

“Patrick lived a thousand lifetimes in one lifetime,” said actor Rob Lowe. “He was an expert dancer, he wrote hit songs, he starred in hit movies, he was an amazing horseman. But the thing I will remember him most for was his amazing love affair with his wife Lisa.”

Patrick Swayze Urges Congress To Fight Cancer

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Patrick Swayze has penned an open letter in the Washington Post urging world leaders to help in the fight against cancer.

The 56-year-old was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2008 and wrote the letter to ask Congress to fund cancer research and give financial assistance to sufferers. He called for a $10 billion grant to go towards research and assistance on behalf of the National Institutes of Health.

“Ever since I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2008, I’ve been waging an intense, often hellacious battle… but I’m not alone,” wrote the star. "More than 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. In the United States, one out of three women and one out of two men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. Look around you; at one point or another, cancer will strike very close to home for everyone.

Stand Up To Cancer A Huge Success

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:30:00 +0000

A multitude of stars came out on Friday night as part of the Stand Up To Cancer television extravaganza to raise money for cancer research.

The hour-long program – simulcast live on NBC, ABC, and CBS – featured celebrities such as Jennifer Garner, Halle Berry, Forest Whitaker and Casey Affleck reading accounts of people battling cancer, as well as musical items, comedy sketches, and the opportunity for people to ring up and pledge donations – with stars such as Ellen DeGeneres, America Ferrera and Kirsten Dunst answering the phones.

“This is an absolutely historic night, thanks to the unbelievable generosity of the three networks,” event organiser, producer and cancer survivor Laura Ziskin told the audience at Los Angeles’ Kodak Theatre.