Katie Couric teams with rival anchors to 'Stand Up to Cancer'

Couric will be joined by her rival network anchors, ABC's Charles Gibson and NBC's Brian Williams, on "Stand Up to Cancer," a commercial-free, hourlong special airing at 8 p.m. on all three networks.

"It's all about collaboration," she said in an interview. "Collaboration among the networks, collaboration among cancer researchers all around the country. . . . and ultimately, the collaboration of the American people, who can unite behind a single cause that affects so many people."

The celeb-heavy event aims to help finance cutting-edge research into new cancer therapies. The three anchors, all of whom have lost family members to cancer, will report on research efforts. The special is part of an ongoing effort by Couric, whose husband, Jay Monahan, died of colon cancer, to raise awareness.

"One person dies of cancer every single minute in this country, 1,500 people a day," she said. "As many times as I say those statistics, they still shock me."

matea.gold@latimes.com