Aniston, Streep, Theron set for telethon

Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep and Charlize Theron are set to appear in a Stand Up To Cancer telethon.

The Hollywood actresses will attempt to raise money for cancer research and treatment in the live fundraising broadcast which will be simultaneously shown on US TV networks ABC, CBS and NBC on September 5.

Other celebrities to appear on the telethon include Scarlett Johansson, Christina Applegate, America Ferrera and Sally Field.

Cancer survivor Laura Ziskin, who will produce the telethon, said: "As a motion picture and television producer, I've learned how incredibly powerful these mediums can be in generating public discourse, sometimes almost overnight.

"Our goal with this initiative and TV show is to 'tip' the conversation in this country about cancer - to get people riled up, so they want to do something about the fact that it still takes so many lives."

Raymond N DuBois, Executive Vice President at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, added: "The Stand Up To Cancer model is distinctive because it emphasises collaboration among scientists and will accelerate translational research on the verge of breakthroughs as well as provide an additional revenue stream to encourage novel, high-risk proposals that have great potential in making inroads against cancer."