Maya Jama, Sam Thompson and Roman Kemp dress as their idols for Stand Up to Cancer

Celebrities including Maya Jama, Sam Thompson and Roman Kemp have dressed up as their idols to launch this year’s Stand Up to Cancer event.

The stars’ new looks include trailblazers, musical icons and political icons such as Prince, Elton John and Michelle Obama.

The campaign is a joint endeavour from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 which raises money to develop cutting-edge treatments to help save lives.

Maya Jama, BBC Radio One and TV presenter, chose to dress as Prince. She said: “Stand Up To Cancer means loads to me. Everybody I know has either had someone die from cancer or knows someone who is going through it – sadly one in two people will get cancer in their lives.

“I chose to dress up as Prince because I think he’s an absolute legend. He’s the perfect example of someone who did push boundaries, opened up so many doors in terms of masculinity and men not feeling like they had to be a certain way.

She added: “He made it okay to wear make-up and frilly shirts, dance around like he did and not care what anyone else thinks. He was completely himself and that’s really inspirational. We can all fundraise, dress up and stand up to cancer and beat it at its own game.”

Andrea McLean chose Coco Chanel because she was “strong and driven and supremely talented”, and Greg Rutherford chose Alan Turing, and said: “We can all take a leaf out of Alan Turing’s book and make a difference too.”

Roman Kemp’s choice of Elton John was down to how he “really changed the music industry,” he added: “For me, that is a trailblazer. He is the very definition of the word.”

On his trailblazer choice, Nick Knowles, Joe Lycett said: “He is an icon, a unique talent, and a national treasure! He’s someone who has been unpredictable…who saw that album coming?! He’s relentless in trying to improve people’s lives and doesn’t care how he looks doing it. By dressing up in a silly costume and encouraging people to raise funds, I like to think I’m doing him proud.”

Simon Harrison, head of Stand Up To Cancer, said: “It’s been great to have such amazing support to launch Stand Up To Cancer this year. Trailblazers find new avenues, and don’t stop until they achieve their goals. That is how we feel in our fight against cancer.

“Our scientists are leading the way, carrying out life-saving work that will change what it means to get a cancer diagnosis, finding new paths and making progress. One in two people will get cancer in their lifetime and now, more than ever, we need to do everything we can to fund pioneering research that makes a real difference for people with the disease. We hope people across the UK will be inspired to get involved and stand up to cancer.”

The Stand Up To Cancer campaign will continue throughout September and October.

For more information visit www.su2c.org.uk

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