Stand Up To Cancer: Who Do You Stand Up For? (PHOTOS)

Nearly 1,640,000 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2012 -- that's almost 4,500 a day. Every day, more than 1,500 Americans die from the disease.

While cancer can take away our dear family members and friends, it can't take everything. And it's that fighting spirit that inspired Stand Up To Cancer's #IStandUpFor photo contest. From the contest's Facebook page:

"It can't take away our nature, our spirit, our vision of a world without cancer. It can't take away our ability to smile, or the relentless love of family and friends or the kindness of strangers whom we have chosen to trust. It can't take away the resolve that, someday, we will win.

'I Stand Up For' is the rallying cry that unites us all: old, young, sick, healthy, rich, poor. It's a mantra for strength and a prayer for a cure."

The contest called for photos from Facebook and Twitter fans and followers in late July and early August to help raise awareness for the upcoming third Stand Up To Cancer Telethon, airing Friday, September 7 at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, commercial-free.

A panel of judges then selected 10 finalists, and Facebook fans voted to select one grand prize winner, who was awarded two tickets to the live event.

The first Stand Up To Cancer Telethon, held in 2008, raised $100 million for cancer research. After a second event in 2010, Stand Up To Cancer has now funded 350 researchers through the organization's scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research with the money that has been pledged.

This will be the first airing since co-founder Laura Ziskin lost her own battle with the disease in 2011.

We're honored to be able to share the 10 #IStandUpFor finalists here on HuffPost Healthy Living, and to help spread the word for tonight's telethon. Click through the moving photos below, and share your #IStandUpFor stories on Twitter.