TV's 'Frosted Pink' is a call to action on women's cancers

[Christine]

By Brittany Levine, USA TODAY

Mix Sharon Osbourne with Olivia Newton-John, toss in Grammy-winning artists and world-class figure skaters, and you've got Frosted Pink, a TV event to raise awareness of women's cancers and inspire action.

The show, which airs Oct. 14 on ABC, has a simple message: Do something. Many of the performers and presenters have battled cancer in some way.

Newton-John, a breast cancer survivor, plans to sing a song off her soon-to-be-released album Christmas Wish. "You need to concentrate on wellness, not just illness," she says. "I want to encourage women and tell them: Look, here I am. It's 15 years later, and I'm fine."

Osbourne, a colon cancer survivor, says that being a part of Frosted Pink was a "no-brainer. Every man, woman and child is capable of getting cancer. Everyone. This isn't a select group. We're only one step away from it ourselves."

Rena Inoue, a two-time Olympic champion, is a lung cancer survivor.

Musical guests include country stars Rascal Flatts and Craig Morgan, who will perform songs they wrote about cancer. Joss Stone, Babyface, Anastacia (a breast cancer survivor) and Heart also will perform.

The show will benefit the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, National Breast Cancer Coalition, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Volunteers can work with the organizations or check out www.frostedpink.org for ideas on how to help in their own community.

Already in the works is Pink With a Twist, a follow-up show featuring Olympic gymnasts. Both shows are the brainchild of Edge Entertainment's CEO Mike Burg. Burg, a Hodgkin's disease survivor, says the show is about doing "more than wearing a pink ribbon or a yellow bracelet." It's about launching a long-lasting and far-reaching system of support, he says.