***MEDIA ALERT***

GLOBAL HEALTH ORGANISATIONS
“UNITE FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE” ON THE EVE OF UN SUMMIT ON NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (NCDS)

UNite on September 18 to increase awareness of the world’s leading killers: cancer, diabetes, heart & chronic respiratory disease.

WHAT: On the eve of the first-ever UN Summit on NCDs, the NCD Alliance [2] will host “UNite for a Healthy Future” [3] an afternoon rally to engage the public in the fight against, cancer, diabetes, heart and chronic respiratory disease.  Over 35 million people die of these Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) every year, accounting for 60% of all global deaths.

Activities [4] run from 1:00pm-5:00pm including;

• A live giant mural painting [5] by leading NCD artists
• Special children’s mini mural
• Presentation of a one million strong petition in support of the NCD Summit
• Bike ride with celebrity cyclist NCD advocate
• A Caribbean carnival parade featuring Socamotion [6]
• Health check-ups

The opening ceremony starts at 2pm. Media interviews from 2:45pm – 3:45pm with:

• Sir George Alleyne, Director Emeritus, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
• Prof. Jean Claude Mbanya, President, International Diabetes Federation
• Dr. Ralph Sacco, former President, American Heart Association
• Dr. Judith Mackay, Senior Advisor,  World Lung Foundation
• Members of the NCD community including patient advocates,
  well-known artists, activists and sports stars

This event is free and open to the public. People of all ages and abilities are invited to participate.  Register online at:  unite@ncdalliance.org [7]

WHERE: The New York Academy of Medicine
1216 Fifth Avenue at 103^rd Street, New York, NY 10029          

WHEN: Sunday, September 18 1:00pm – 5:00pm

INFO: For more info about “UNite for a Healthy Future”, please visit: http://www.idf.org/unite-healthy-future-1 [4] or the event Facebook page at: http://on.fb.me/qwTRMo [8]

CONTACT: Isabella Platon, Head of Communications, International Diabetes Federation Isabella.platon@idf.org [9]