Jaclyn Smith, the former Charlie's Angels star, was recently in Seattle to talk about her struggle with breast cancer at an event for Strength in Knowing, a nationwide educational campaign. Though she hasn't been known to speak much on the subject previously, Farrah Fawcett's recent diagnosis has ended her silence. After interviewing her, the Seattle Times had this to say about the strong survivor:

Smith's tone turns serious when discussing the illness. Five years ago, her reaction to finding out she had the disease was "fear beyond fear," she said. "The world stops ... you go to the darkest place."

In addition to a lumpectomy and radiation, the "power of girlfriends" was her saving grace, she said. Her former colleague and friend, Farrah Fawcett, who is being treated for cancer herself, lives down the street.

Smith prides herself on being outside the Hollywood scene, spending much of her time close to home. "It's my family that makes my world go round," she said.

I think Smith, like so many amazing cancer survivors, is an inspiration.

Cancer has many faces, but not many of them are cartoon figures. The Leukemia and Lymphoma society has appointed a new spokesperson for their children's campaign -- Crash Bandicoot, the lovable star of several best-selling video games since 1996. The brave and vivacious marsupial, who spends his time fighting the evil Dr. Neo Cortex in the virtual reality work, has taken on a new enemy in the real world -- cancer. His aim is to bring awareness of the disease to healthy kids and to help the sicks kids in their fight, and though it's been a while since I've seen him in a video game, I think he'll do a great job.

Crash will appear on School & Youth recruitment posters around the USA. You can get yours by visiting their website.

Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon has been chosen as Avon's first-ever global ambassador. Serving as honorary chairman of the Avon Foundation, the 31-year-old will focus on issues of breast cancer, domestic violence, and emergency relief.

"I'm very excited about working with the Avon Foundation, with many different aspects of it," Witherspoon says. "First and foremost, breast cancer research and awareness, programs that they're working on. Someone very close to me is a breast-cancer survivor. It's a cause that's very close to my heart."

Witherspoon will also represent Avon Products Inc.'s beauty brands and sales representatives.

Have you ever stopped to wonder just how it is that celebrities become associated with a certain cause? I sometimes ponder whether or not it is part of their contract: "must find a cause to endorse one a certain level of fame is achieved." Not every celebrity has a cause or a charity, but it seems there are more famous people with foundations than not.

If you have a charity or a foundation that is in need of a famous name, here is the link for you. This site offers a wide range of celebrity types to levels of fame. the categories vary from reality television personalities to hometown heroes. The fees range from $5,000 to $200,000.

It could be that many famous people are just too far out of the typical fundraiser budget, but the lists make for some interesting reading. It is also good to know that so many people are interested in lending their name to a cause.

It is very fitting (and just a little ironic) that the golden girl in from the TV show The O.C. is the spokesperson for Superdrug's SAFE Skin Cancer campaign. Ms. Barton talks about being very aware of sun protection and wanting people to be aware of the dangers of being out in the sun.

I applaud her for doing this kind of awareness campaign, but I must also wonder at her effectiveness. Seeing Mischa Barton in her beach wear on the show, with a glowing suntan, probably leads some girls to tanning, not away from it. It is such a shame that one of our ideals of beauty is a sun-bronzed body. This has slowly been changing as we become more aware of the dangers of sun exposure, but our stars are still, for the most part, expected to not be pasty white. Young girls feel that they have to live up to these images, which has the potential to be harmful to them.

She might be able to reach her audience, though. Young girls will be eager to buy these products and use them just because Mischa Barton endorses them. On balance, it is probably a positive step to have a star like her endorsing this campaign. I just wish we did not need stars to tell us what is good for us, especially after they've perpetuated the images that can do damage.

Toby Keith has been touched by childhood cancer. One of his original band mates lost his daughter Allison in August of 2003 to a form of kidney cancer called Wilm's tumor.

The country singer is sponsoring the fourth annual charity golf tournament that will once again benefit the families of children fighting cancer. The event will begin with an auction and party in downtown Oklahoma City on April 27, and continue with the golf tournament the following morning.

The proceeds will benefit Ally's house, which Keith helped establish in memory of his friend's daughter. The charity helps pay for medical bills, prescriptions, housing, transportation, toys, food, clothing and other expenses for families that have children with cancer.

Some of the items to be auctioned off are:

• Trip to see Keith in concert in Las Vegas
• Memorabilia from Garth Brooks, Sammy Hagar and Bob Seger
• Sports memorabilia autographed by Tiger Woods and baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle

Toby Keith comments about Ally's House -- "This is a special charity to me. I saw firsthand how a child's cancer diagnosis can devastate a family. Please join me in supporting these kids through Ally's House."

Patrick Dempsey may play a doctor on television's Grey's Anatomy but in real life, he is much like all of us -- especially when it comes to caring for a loved one with cancer.

Dempsey's mother had cancer, received treatment for the disease, and has been surviving for nine years. Yet memories of the journey, and the overwhelming process of it all, are fresh in his mind.

"It's overwhelming because it's like, there's too many options sometimes," Dempsey said. "It's like, well, why should I believe the doctors? Shouldn't I get a second opinion? Shouldn't I find a specialist?"

Dempsey recalls feeling naive and childlike and powerless in many ways. And now, partnering with Breakaway from Cancer -- a support initiative founded in 2005 -- he is helping others take control of life with cancer.

"You need a support system in to encourage you, to get you up and out of bed in the morning," Dempsey said.

Lance Armstrong means business. He says his new race is finding a cure for a disease that kills 600,000 people a year. Lance is a ten year testicular cancer survivor and was diagnosed at the age of 25.

Yesterday, Lance urged Iowans to support a presidential candidate who's dedicated to expanding cancer research. In a speech to 1,500 guests of the Greater Des Moines Partnership's annual dinner, the seven time Tour de France Champion described the power Iowa holds as the nation's lead-off state in the presidential nominating process.

"The cancer question has to be asked, and it has to be on the agenda for the most powerful man in the world", Armstrong said.

Go Lance!

Strip, Search and Save spokesperson and former surfer girl Kathy Lette shared a story of how her melanoma came to be named Bruce in the Village Voice It's Time to get Naked feature as part of an effort to raise skin cancer awareness.

A self-confessed slathered in baby oil bake in the sun tanner, Lette told the reporter, "I would say my boyfriend used to get me to cut his name out of paper and sticky-tape it to my stomach so that I would get a tan tattoo in his name. The joke was, if I ever get cancer I'll have a melanoma called Bruce.''

It was a not-so-funny joke when Lette had skin cancer surgically removed from her neck earlier this year. It was then that she remembered, in a bit of irony, the suntan tattoo joke she had told years ago.

As a skin cancer survivor, Lette has joined the Cancer Council's Strip, Search and Save campaign. The premise of the campaign is that couples sans clothing and visually check each other's body for unusual changes. With a nudge and a wink, Lette said, "Not only is it important that they do it, but it could be fun," suggesting that this exam might add spice to the couple's sex lives.

Who said cancer awareness and prevention cannot be fun? Lette certainly is not taking the stodgy position that the attitude and approach need be dreary.

In addition to the Strip, Search and Save campaign, Puberty Blues author Lette's latest novel is called How To Kill Your Husband – and other handy household hints. Of course, as she says, if you are still fond of your spouse (and I would say most of us are quite fond of our spouse) have him join you in scanning each other's skin. "The peeling is mutual," states Lette. To learn more about skin cancer and how to prevent and detect melanoma, visit Lette's Strip, Search and Save section at the Cancer Council of Australia.

Breast cancer is personal for Nicole Kidman. At 17, her mother Janelle was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a celebrity spokesperson for Cancer Research UK Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Kidman helped launched this October's All Join Together campaign by unveiling a giant pink ribbon on the Stardome at Madame Tussauds.

Kidman shares, "As someone whose family has personally been affected by the disease, I can't stress enough how important it is that women get to know and understand what is normal for their body. I hope that this Cancer Research UK campaign will raise awareness of breast cancer amongst women of all ages and encourage them to report any unusual changes and go for screening if they're over 50. Together we will beat cancer."

On October 5th, A Touch of Pink party will be held in the Blush room of Madame Tussauds. Madame Tussauds is famous for its wax figures of celebrities, notable persons and world figures. Many celebrities are expected to attend the A Touch of Pink party. For more information on purchasing tickets to the event, email tickets@atouchofpink.org.

To learn more about Cancer Research UK's mission in cancer prevention and research; and in improving the lives of cancer patients, visit Cancer Research UK.

While Anaia Bedford, wife of Emmy award winning photographer Ken Bedford, underwent chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer, both Anaia and Ken conducted research and asked many questions of experts. According to what they learned, early detection, a healthy diet, exercise and a strong immune system are the keys to breast cancer survival and that "breast cancer awareness and education among African American and other minority women in general is vital because there is a lack of medical attention due to financial hardships, spousal rejection fears and being so terrified that the disease will take their lives."

Anaia felt that had she been diagnosed earlier, her chances of survival would have been greater. Anaia lost her struggle to survive breast cancer in 2004.

The Anaia Breast Cancer Awareness Program was founded by her family to increase breast cancer awareness and promote early detection in minority communities. As a tribute to Anaia and to educate women about breast cancer, an annual gala is hosted at the Galleria Marchetti in Chicago. This year's keynote speaker was Dancing with the Stars Vivica A. Fox. Governor Rod Blagojevich, Mayor Richard Daley, Angela Winbush, Phil Perry, Glenn Jones, Howard Hewett and jazz Sax Man Ray Silkman also attended the event.

Anaia believed "Knowledge is power, the more you know and understand will reduce many of the fears and myths you hear about breast cancer." Her family and friends are continuing the cause of raising breast cancer awareness Anais felt was important to surviving cancer. To learn more, visit the Anaia Breast Cancer Awareness Program.

Glenn Close is the 2006 Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) ambassador to the Saks Fifth Avenue Key to the Cure campaign. Oscar de la Renta is the 2006 designer of the Key to the Cure t-shirt -- available now at Saks Fifth Avenue stores for the price of $35. For each t-shirt purchase, $31 will benefit EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund. T-shirts are available on-line and in retails stores everywhere.

All Saks Fifth Avenue retail stores and Saks.com will contribute to Key to the Cure by donating 2 percent of all profits during October 12-15. Off Fifth stores will donate 1 percent of profits during the same time period to benefit local and national women's cancer charities.

Key to the Cure is a women's cancer initiative founded in partnership with EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund. The program receives on-going support from Mercedes-Benz USA -- set to donate one million dollars to the cause. EIF is the entertainment industry's leading charitable organization and has shared hundreds of millions of dollars in support of critical issues facing our society. Like breast cancer.

Singer and songwriter Jewel sat down with ABC News This Week's George Stephanopoulos to discuss her support of a bill that will allow women to stay in the hospital at least 48 hours after a mastectomy. Called drive-thru mastectomies, the current practice of discharging women hours after surgery does not allow women sufficient time to heal before being released from the hospital.

During the interview Jewel placed the blame on insurance companies and HMOs who have decided that a mastectomy is not major surgery but an outpatient procedure. You have got to be kidding me, what an absurdity.

As Jewel stated, "This certainly isn't a merely feminist issue. This is about the care of our loved ones."

I don't see it as much a feminist issue as simply a matter of compassionate, and in this case, safe health care of mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters. The obnoxious practice of bean counters to decide that any major surgery is an outpatient procedure to save on health care expenses has been going on far too long.

Jewel will travel to Washington to help deliver 12 million signatures to Congress to support a health care bill that requires insurance companies and HMOs to cover the cost of proper care for women undergoing mastectomy. The VOICES: Jewel Lobbies for Breast Cancer Bill interview is available as video for viewing online.

Grey's Anatomy has teamed up with Warriors in Pink in a sweepstakes called Gear Up with Grey's Anatomy. The Warriors in Pink Prize Package winner will receive a 2007 Ford Fusion, a trip to the Grey's Anatomy set, and a Warrior in Pink apparel package including gear autographed by the cast of Grey's Anatomy. No purchase is necessary to win and the deadline to enter the sweepstakes is 11:59 PM (EST) on December 31, 2006. For more details, and to enter the sweepstakes, visit Warriors in Pink Gear Up with Grey's Anatomy Sweepstakes.

In addition, Warriors in Pink has launched a magnificent virtual quilt online. Breast cancer survivors and co-survivors are invited to contribute to the quilt with a personal message of encouragement, inspiration, love, support and celebration by designing a symbolic patch that will then be added to the Virtual Quilt online. According to the keepers of the Warriors in Pink Virtual Quilt, "There is strength in numbers, and decorated with the Warriors in Pink symbols, each patch is a personal message for friends and loved ones. Experience the vastness and behold the Warriors in Pink beautiful and valiant fight against breast cancer."

The Virtual Quilt is also available as a screensaver. To date, there are 2740 patches. To visit, the Virtual Quilt requires Flash Player 8 or higher.

This past week saw the launch of a first-ever partnership between Ford and ABC's The View. As part of Ford's Warriors in Pink initiative -- a campaign to get women everywhere to join the battle against breast cancer -- the co-hosts of The View during the month of October will feature Warriors sharing their personal stories of support and commitment in the fight against breast cancer.

On September 12, The View's call out for Warriors began online at abc.com
(keyword: theview) where viewers are asked to submit stories about the breast cancer Warriors in their lives. Then each week in October -- Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- a different Warrior will be selected to appear on the show.

Also part of the show will be an audience give-away, featuring merchandise from Ford's Warrior collection. Beginning October 2, viewers will have the chance to purchase a limited edition The View/Warrior coffee mug -- the same mug The View co-hosts will sip from to remind audience members about the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection. All proceeds will go directly to the Komen Foundation. And on October 29, co-host Rosie O'Donnell -- who lost her mother to breast cancer and is herself a Warrior -- will attend the Race for the Cure event in Princeton, New Jersey.

Ford's Warriors in Pink campaign raises funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through the sale of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. One hundred percent of the net proceeds benefit the Komen Foundation. Over the past 12 years, Ford has contributed $87 million in gifts and donations to this life-saving venture.
Warriors in Pink merchandise is available not just during the month of October but year-round at www.fordcares.com.