Amsterdam Native and St. Jude Patient Christian Gizara to Appear With Marlo Thomas on Nov. 30 'Larry King Live' to Educate Viewers About Life-Saving Work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R)

Amsterdam Native and St. Jude Patient Christian Gizara to Appear With Marlo Thomas on Nov. 30 'Larry King Live' to Educate Viewers About Life-Saving Work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R)

Appearance part of Fourth Annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving(R) Campaign

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twelve-year-old Christian Gizara, Amsterdam native and St. Jude patient, will appear alongside St. Jude National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas during the November 30 episode of "Larry King Live." This appearance, which can be seen November 30th at 9 p.m. ET on CNN, is one in a series of media activities in conjunction with the fourth annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign. Christian, who was diagnosed with ependymoma, a brain tumor, in 2003 and is now cancer-free, will share his story on-air and help educate viewers about the life-saving work of St. Jude and how they can help by participating in the Thanks and Giving campaign.

This is the third year for long-time St. Jude supporter, Larry King, to invite Marlo Thomas to share stories of hope, like Christian's, with his viewers during Thanks and Giving. Christian's story is a unique one -- it began in October 2003 when Christian developed flu-like symptoms. His parents took him to see their pediatrician, who suggested rest and fluids. But three days later, Christian woke up vomiting and crying that his head hurt "really bad." His doctor sent him for an MRI and lab work at the local children's hospital, where Christian was diagnosed with ependymoma, a brain tumor. Two days after his diagnosis, Christian underwent a nine-hour brain surgery to remove the tumor. Knowing he needed ongoing treatment, his parents searched the Internet, where they discovered St. Jude. Tune in this Friday night to hear the rest of Christian's story, how St. Jude saved his life and see how he's doing today.

This holiday season, everyone can help kids like Christian by supporting the Thanks and Giving campaign. The campaign encourages customers to "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not." Shoppers will see the St. Jude Thanks and Giving magnifying glass on a bright green background in their stores and can support the campaign by adding a donation at checkout or purchasing specialty merchandise that benefits St. Jude. Donations and purchases can also be made online at www.stjude.org or by calling 1-800-4STJUDE. Thanks and Giving began nationwide on November 19 and continues through the holiday season.

Thanks and Giving was created by award-winning actress and St. Jude National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas and her siblings, Terre and Tony Thomas, the children of hospital founder Danny Thomas. It is an unprecedented coming together of retail and corporate partners, media and celebrities, asking everyone to join them in supporting St. Jude's groundbreaking research that benefits children in communities across the country and around the world. St. Jude is the nation's leading pediatric cancer research and treatment center and the only one that covers all of the costs for medicine, treatment, food, travel and lodging. Eighty-five cents of each dollar received goes directly to research and treatment.

Celebrity friends Jennifer Aniston, Antonio Banderas, Bernie Mac, Ray Romano, Robin Williams and Reggie Bush have donated their talent for new national television spots, produced by Tony Thomas, which are airing on broadcast and cable networks, in both general and Spanish-language markets; and in a 60-second movie trailer that is reaching audiences on more than 20,000 movie screens and on American Airlines flights during the holidays. Radio spots featuring country artist Keith Urban are running on hundreds of stations throughout the campaign. Thanks and Giving also includes print ads in high profile magazines from home decor, to lifestyle, entertainment and news. Full-page ads showcasing the campaign's corporate partners are in newspapers in major cities and in USA Today. The national media blitz includes online banner ads on more than 3,000 Web sites, as well as outdoor billboards in prominent locations from coast to coast.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded in 1962 by late entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude has treated children from across the country and around the world.

   -- No child is ever turned away because of a family's inability to pay.   -- St. Jude covers all costs for treatment and is the only pediatric      cancer research center that pays for travel, lodging and food for      patients and a family member.   -- Eighty-five cents of every dollar received goes directly to research      and treatment.   -- St. Jude has increased the survival rate of the most common form of      childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), from 4 percent      when the hospital opened to 94 percent today.   -- Every breakthrough at St. Jude is freely shared with the scientific and      medical community worldwide. That's why St. Jude is called the      "hospital without walls."   -- St. Jude is the epicenter for pediatric brain tumor research and has      one of the largest sickle cell disease programs in the country.   -- St. Jude discovered a way to lessen side effects, making radiation      treatment more effective for virtually all cancers.   -- St. Jude follows the progress of its patients long after they leave the      hospital, providing related follow-up services, advice and assistance      at no charge to the patients.   

More information is available at www.stjude.org, where visitors can view the celebrity spots, learn about the corporate partners, buy unique merchandise designed by the patients at St. Jude and meet some of the patients.

Source: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

CONTACT: Katie Schroeder, +1-212-843-8036, kschroeder@rubenstein.com,
Emily Gest, +1-212-843-8588, egest@rubenstein.com, both of Rubenstein
Communications, Beth Malone of ALSAC - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,
+1-901-578-2484, beth.malone@stjude.org

Web site: http://www.stjude.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment