Stars announce Stand Up to Cancer Canada, to air on CBC

Actors Dan Aykroyd, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Kyle MacLachlanwerein Toronto to help announce the upcoming Stand Up to Cancer Canada broadcast special.

CBC is joining forces with dozens of Canadian and U.S. broadcasters this fall to simultaneously air the star-studded cancer research telecast from Hollywood and for the first time Toronto.

The telecast, called Stand Up to Cancer Canada (SU2C Canada), airs Sept.5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, featuring well-known faces from the entertainment world in a special hour of commercial-free programming.

The full list of attending celebrities willbe released closer to the event, but veteran Canadian comedianDan Aykroyd promised it would be fun.

"We are putting on a show and it's going to be big," Aykroydexclaimed.

Along with Ferguson andMacLachlan,Aykroydis anSU2Ccelebrity ambassador.

Each man shared their personal reasons for getting involved at the official announcement at theMaRSresearch facilityin downtown Toronto.

Fergusons husband, Justin, had Hodgkins lymphoma and has been cancer-free since 2000. MacLachlanlost his mother to ovarian cancer in 1986.

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrowand Emmy-winning producer Joel Gallen are signed on to executive produce the Hollywood broadcast.

• Read more about the U.S.-based Stand Up to Cancer here

Three previousSU2Ctelevisionspecials in the U.S. drew an extraordinary lineup of actors, recording artists and athletes, raising$261 million USfor cancer research.

This year's telecast will feature cutaways to a live event in Toronto with film stars attending theToronto International Film Festival.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada; two out of five Canadians are expected to develop cancer in their lifetimes.

"CBC is privileged to participate in an event that encourages our country to band together to fight this disease, which affects so many Canadians," said Sally Catto, general manager of programming forCBC Television.

Major Canadian organizations including Genome Canadaandthe Canadian Institutes of Health Researchare alreadycollaborating with SU2C Canada to support cancer research and awareness.in the country.