When Sue Schwartz cofounded Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) in 2008, she had lost her mother to a blood cancer and her two sisters had been diagnosed with cancers. 

Then, in 2021, Schwartz was diagnosed with breast cancer.

That’s all to say that Schwartz, who is now disease free, is well acquainted with the often-deadly disease — and of the progress SU2C has helped make against it by funding research.

“I’m grateful for the people that we have helped, including myself and my sisters, and I’m determined to help more people,” said Schwartz, who has a marketing background and helps lead the organization’s marketing, branding and promotions.

The nonprofit is celebrating its 15-year anniversary with a fundraiser featuring celebrities; cancer researchers; and cancer survivors who received treatments SU2C helped create.

“This event is great because it’s 15 years of progress, so it’s really an opportunity for viewers to hear from the scientists and hear about their research and most importantly, hear from the patients,” Schwartz said.

The biennial event, How It Started, How It’s Going, will air August 19 at 8 p.m. EST on the four major U.S. broadcast networks and a host of other media platforms in the United States and Canada. 

The show will feature appearances from figures such as Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel, Don Cheadle, Katie Couric and Justin Timberlake. It will also include a montage of comedic skits from previous specials featuring actors such as Jack Black, Zach Galifianakis and Melissa McCarthy and prior musical performances from Brittany Howard, Simone Ledward Boseman and The Who.

And the show will provide information about the nonprofit’s research that led to successful cancer treatments, including a new treatment for rectal cancer that improved the chances of survivors remaining fertile after treatment. 

Kelly Spill, a rectal cancer survivor, has a baby and will share her story during the special, Schwartz said. 

“That’s why we do what we do, right? If you can change someone’s life and the trajectory of how they were going to have to live their life to something like what you’re going to see with Kelly, that’s pretty remarkable,” Schwartz said.

Until the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization aired the special live every other year. But in 2021, the organization used a closed set, and this year, they filmed the special before a small audience.

“I was worried about it but having attended the taping a couple of weeks ago and looking at the rough cuts of the clips, I actually think it’s going to be equally as exciting,” Schwartz said.

As to a fundraising goal, Schwartz said, “We always want to raise as much money as possible; our goal is just to kick cancer’s butt.’ 

For more information, visit standuptocancer.org/su2c-show-2023.

This article originally appeared on PRWeek US.