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Saying Goodbye to Georgy Girl and a Designing Woman
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Actress Lynn Redgrave died from breast cancer on May 2 at age 67. Redgrave, who was initially diagnosed in late 2002, chronicled her experience through journal entries and photographs taken by her daughter Annabel Clark. The book, Journal: A Mother and Daughter’s Recovery from Breast Cancer, was published in 2004. Redgrave, a two-time Oscar nominee, was best known for her starring role in the 1966 film Georgy Girl, for which she received one of her Oscar nominations.
Teen heart-throb Zac Efron is showing his support for young adult cancer patients and survivors by encouraging his fans to give cancer the bird. Efron’s organization, Zac Gives Back (www.zacgivesback.com), has joined forces with the I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation (i2y.com) to promote “Stupid Cancer” wristbands that literally flip cancer off. For parents worried about their kids sporting the middle finger on their wrists, there’s a kid-friendly version. Through his foundation, Efron is holding a competition through Twitter to find the largest group of supporters wearing the wristbands. The competition ends August 1.
Actress Dixie Carter died of complications from endometrial cancer on April 10. Carter, 70, was best known for her role as Julia Sugarbaker on Designing Women, and recently guest-starred on ABC’s Desperate Housewives, for which she received an Emmy nomination in 2007.
"Easy Rider" star Dennis Hopper died on May 29. Hopper, 74, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October, and made his last public appearance in March, when he was honored with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Nine-time Wimbledon women's single champion Martina Navratilova underwent a lumpectomy in March after receiving a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a noninvasive breast cancer. The diagnosis came after a routine mammogram in January revealed the DCIS, which was followed by a biopsy in February. Navratilova, 53, began six weeks of radiation therapy in May, and her prognosis is good.
Two men stretched their cancer fundraising efforts for miles by asking for support as they both planned to complete multiple marathons. In April, Hugh Williams-Preece, 40, from London, finished 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days. Williams-Preece began his first marathon in Lisbon, Spain and ran a different one each day across Europe, ending in London. During that time, he raised £33,000 (nearly $50,000) for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
In the United States, Don Armstrong, 54, committed to run five marathons and five half-marathons to raise half a million dollars for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. His first race was in February, and he plans to run his last this December. Armstrong was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at age 49, and is using this goal to celebrate his “cancerversary” of being in remission for five years. You can read more about Armstrong’s Finish Your Race campaign at .
