'Desperate Housewives' Actor Raises Money For Breast Cancer

Oct. 5, 2005 — -- By the time James Denton, the hunky plumber on "Desperate Housewives," learned his mother had breast cancer, it was too late.

When his mother discovered a lump in her breast, she decided not to seek treatment because she didn't want to go through chemotherapy. She kept her cancer a secret for as long as she could, Denton said.

"We didn't find out until she was almost incapacitated by it," he said.

Denton's mother passed away in 2002. Now he says he has a mission to help other women suffering from breast cancer.

Denton is this year's spokesman for the 10th annual Lee National Denim Day, a partnership between Lee Jeans and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which is the largest single private provider of breast cancer research and community outreach programs in the United States.

On Friday, Oct. 7, participating companies across the country will allow their employees to wear jeans to work in exchange for a $5 donation to support the Komen foundation.

"It's the largest single day fundraiser," said Denton. "The goal is to raise $10 million this year." He said he's trying to beat last year's record of $7 million.

'Desperate Housewives'

Denton also dished about his "Desperate Housewives" character, Mike Delfino. In the upcoming episode, Mike is trying to find the boy he believes is his son, Zach Young, a troubled teenager who has run away.

But Denton cautioned that viewers shouldn't assume that Mike is actually Zach's father.

"I'm hoping that crazy kid isn't my son," he said.

Denton said that he doesn't even know if Zach is Mike's son.

"I'm sure ["Desperate Housewives" creator] Marc Cherry knows," he added.

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