Actor Samuel L. Jackson has played a mob hit man and a Jedi master , among other roles . His newest role : Fighting childhood cancer . Jackson is featured in a new public awareness campaign , launched by the St. Baldrick 's Foundation and Stand Up to Cancer , aimed at increasing awareness about childhood cancers . The campaign is designed to promote the `` critical importance for infants and children , and in particular teens and young adults with childhood cancers , to be treated by pediatric oncologists , '' according to a statement from the organizations . `` Survival for teens and young adults is far greater when treated on pediatric cancer protocols . '' Each year , more than 175,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer , and it 's the No . 1 disease killer of children . The campaign also highlights the need to support pediatric cancer research , the organizations said . `` When I was a child in the 1950s , most kids who got diagnosed with cancer had little chance of survival . Now , there is hope , '' said Jackson in a statement . `` I am honored to join Stand Up to Cancer and the St. Baldrick 's Foundation to help educate people about childhood cancer and the importance of seeing a pediatric oncologist . '' Mark Harmon in cancer immunotherapy awareness PSA . Jackson , an Academy Award nominee who has appeared in more than 100 movies including `` Pulp Fiction , '' `` The Avengers '' and the `` Star Wars '' prequel trilogy , is joined in the PSA by four St. Baldrick 's Honored Kids , ages 10 to 19 , who have all had cancer . Some of them are still fighting the disease . `` Samuel L. Jackson is a powerful actor and has played some seriously tough guys , '' said Kathleen Ruddy , chief executive officer of the St. Baldrick 's Foundation . `` It seems very fitting that we have someone with his level of intensity and power speaking out against childhood cancers , which are seriously tough diseases . '' St. Baldrick 's Foundation is the leading nongovernmental provider of childhood cancer research grants , according to the statement . Earlier this year , the foundation and Stand Up to Cancer announced the formation of a `` Dream Team '' dedicated to childhood cancer research . The SU2C -- St. Baldrick 's Pediatric Dream Team Translational Cancer Research Grant will provide $ 14.5 million in funding over four years for this project . Researchers on the team represent seven institutions in the United States and Canada . Will Congress carry on Gabriella 's fight ? `` We are grateful to Samuel L. Jackson for lending his support to this extremely important campaign , '' said Sung Poblete , Stand Up to Cancer 's president and CEO . `` While great progress has been made in the battle against childhood cancer , the sad fact remains that one in five children diagnosed in the United States will not survive . Through the creation of the St. Baldrick's-Stand Up to Cancer Dream Team , we are making progress in the fight against childhood cancer research . ''
A new campaign aims to increase awareness of childhood cancer and treatment . Jackson says when he was a child , most kids with cancer did n't survive . A new `` Dream Team '' focuses on childhood cancer research .