I can still recall the day a few years ago our CEO, 3-time cancer survivor Doug Ulman, returned from Australia and told me, “Hey, I’d like you to see about us getting involved with this organization called Movember.” OK, I said, tell me about them.  He went on to say they were this enthusiastic group of guys who wanted to bring back the moustache (a Mo in Aussie slang) in November, hence: Movember. And in the process they’d spread the word about men’s health, raise some funds, have a lot of fun and a then throw big party afterwa

For too long non-communicable diseases have been silent killers. Globally, 36 million people will die this year from cancer, diabetes, lung and heart disease and the epidemic is getting worse and worse each day. NCDs account for 60% of all deaths and in low-middle income countries they account for 80% of deaths. Now is the time to address this global problem and next week is our week to do it.
Listen to LIVESTRONG CEO Doug Ulman talk about how the UN Summit on Non Communicable Diseases meeting will change the face of global health.

This morning at 7am, LIVESTRONG staff will embark on an intensive three day trip across Texas to visit program partners, grantees, advocates, elected officials, corporate partners, fundraisers and major cancer centers. The purpose of the trip is to not only view the organizations and programs we have partnered with and funded, but it is also a time for staff to bond together as a team and celebrate our achievements made possible through your generous support.

LIVESTRONG, along with other NGO’s and partners, want non-communicable diseases (NCDs) recognized as a major cause of poverty, a barrier to economic development and a global emergency. One of the ways we are doing this is by taking part in multiple high level discussions at the United Nations. The outcomes of these discussions will provide an input to the preparatory process for the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs (New York, 19-20 September 2011).

Doug and I were thrilled to join individuals and organizations in Moscow to advocate for better global policies that protect people at risk for and living with cancer and other noncommunicable diseases. It was an eventful and informative 3 days. In the end, we have a better sense of the road ahead and what we still need to do to ensure a successful UN summit. Doug shares his thoughts in this video.