Tony Goldwyn Honors His Mother In New Lung Cancer PSA For Stand Up To Cancer

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), is increasing national awareness about one of the deadliest cancers, lung cancer, in a new public service announcement (PSA), which is supported by a charitable donation from Bristol-Myers Squibb. The campaign features actor, director and SU2C ambassador Tony Goldwyn, who lost his mother, Jennifer Coleman to lung cancer. The PSA will begin airing April 2015.

The PSA, entitled "Photograph," promotes the importance of empowering lung cancer patients and their loved ones with information about the therapies, specialists, and clinical trials available to them and the latest breakthroughs in lung cancer research so they can make the most informed choices. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. In 2015, more than 221,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year, and it will take the lives of approximately 158,000 -- the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. 

The PSA encourages lung cancer patients to visit SU2C.org/LungCancer to learn about questions to ask your health care professional, and for information about options that may be right for each individual.

"In 1993, I lost my mother to lung cancer. When she was diagnosed, she didn't have many options. I was passionate about getting involved with Stand Up To Cancer because I want people to know that strides are being made in lung cancer research," said Goldwyn. "Through this PSA, we hope to motivate people diagnosed with this insidious disease to ask about all the options available to them."

In the PSA, Goldwyn shares his mother's story, saying: "Twenty years ago, Jennifer Coleman was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had very few places to turn, and lost a difficult struggle. Today, there are significantly improved options. My mom didn't have many choices, but you do."

"On an equally personal level," Goldwyn added, "my grandfather, Samuel Goldwyn, was a founder back in the 1940s of the organization that became the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Stand Up To Cancer is a program of EIF, so I am proud to carry out my grandfather's legacy."

"When cancer strikes someone dear to you, it can propel you to use all your energy to help fight this disease, and hopefully help prevent other families from enduring the heartache yours has. We are honored to have Tony help us spread the hopeful word that there are new options for those diagnosed with lung cancer," said SU2C co-founder Katie Couric.

"Many of us at the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer have lost loved ones to lung cancer. We are excited to help inform the public that this is an era of new options for patients with this difficult disease. We are grateful to Bristol-Myers Squibb for the company's continued commitment to Stand Up To Cancer's research and awareness work," added EIF President and CEO Lisa Paulsen, who is also a Stand Up To Cancer co-founder.

"Bristol-Myers Squibb is honored to support Stand Up To Cancer, an organization that shares our commitment to accelerating research and uncovering new, innovative ways to advance cancer care," said Chris Boerner, US President at Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Through our charitable donation, we are proud to support Stand Up To Cancer's work creating greater awareness about lung cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, and providing support for those patients and families who need it."

To learn more or to view the broadcast PSA, visit www.standup2cancer.org/lungcancer or www.bms.com. To join the conversation, like us on Facebook at @StandUpToCancer or follow us on Twitter at @SU2C.

About Stand Up To Cancer
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) raises funds to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was established in 2008 by film and media leaders who utilize the industry's resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, and to increase awareness about progress being made in the fight against the disease. As SU2C's scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a Scientific Advisory Committee led by Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., conduct rigorous, competitive review processes to identify the best research proposals to recommend for funding, oversee grants administration, and provide expert review of research progress.

Current members of the SU2C Council of Founders and Advisors (CFA) include Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, Kathleen Lobb, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Roberstson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, and Ellen Ziffren. The late co-founder Laura Ziskin executive produced the Sept. 5, 2008, and Sept. 10, 2010 Stand Up To Cancer roadblock fundraising telecasts. All current CFA members were producers of the 2012 and 2014 telecasts, with Lisa Paulsen and Pam Williams serving as executive producers in 2014. SU2C was formally launched on May 27, 2008. Sung Poblete, Ph.D., R.N., has served as SU2C's president and CEO since 2011.  

For more information on Stand Up To Cancer, visit www.standup2cancer.org

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information, please visit www.bms.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bmsnews.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150415/198971

SOURCE Stand Up To Cancer

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