The program, called Stand Up To Cancer, was a star-studded affair -- over 50 celebrities from the world of sports, news, and entertainment made an appearance -- and featured messages about cancer prevention and early detection. Several cancer advocacy and support organizations, including the American Cancer Society, backed the project.

It was "designed to put cancer research and cancer back on the front burner, in the front of people's minds," said ABC's Charles Gibson, who hosted the event along with Katie Couric from CBS Evening News and Brian Williams of NBC.

The telethon highlighted innovative research – from using targeted therapies to treat HER2-positive breast cancer to applying nanotechnology to study cancer cell growth. It also featured two segments about screening: NBA star Charles Barkley talked about his colonscopy experience and Everybody Loves Raymond actor Brad Garrett had a digital rectal exam on live TV. The funds raised from the event will be distributed by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

However, research is just one part of the cancer fight.

"As we come together to raise money for cancer research, it is imperative that we all have a realistic view of the facts surrounding cancer. While we all support more money for cancer research let us not forget that our real goal is saving lives," said Otis Brawley, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society. "Research tells us that 57,000 Americans did not die from breast cancer and 77,000 Americans did not of colorectal cancer between 1990 to 2005 because of effective screening, early detection and treatment. Let us just imagine the number of lives that can be positively affected if adequate screening, early detection and treatment were accessible and used by all Americans."

Stand Up To Cancer is supported by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a charitable organization comprised of entertainment and media executives and performers. It began as the brainchild of Couric and Jeff Zucker, the president and chief executive of NBC. Zucker, himself a colon cancer survivor, said in an interview that this was an idea he and Couric discussed before she left NBC to anchor CBS Evening News. It is being produced by Hollywood producer Laura Ziskin, whose credits include the Spider-man series, As Good as It Gets, and Pretty Woman. Ziskin, a breast cancer survivor, was drawn to the project because of her own struggles with disease.

Most of the dollars will go to fund "dream teams" that bring together investigators from around the world and internationally to pursue promising research proposals. A smaller percentage will be given to fund cutting-edge research. An ACS representative will be among the leaders on an advisory council who will oversee the proposed research projects.

"Our medical experts have come up with a system designed to hit potential stumbling blocks head on," said Couric in a video on the Stand Up to Cancer Web site that explains the genesis of the project. "The most talented investigators at many leading institutions will collaborate rather than compete. Innovative ideas will receive rapid funding without bureaucratic delays."

"This happened on 9/11, this happened after the Banda Aceh tsunami, this happened after Katrina… the three networks coming together for a cause," said Williams. This time, "this is kind of a quiet emergency that's hitting every American family."