I am the communications officer in the World Health Organization’s Tobacco Free Initiative department in Geneva, Switzerland. Please accept my personal congratulations for your noble effort to draw attention to the global epidemic of tobacco.

As I’m sure you are aware, tobacco use killed 100 million people during the 20th century. Unless we act, tobacco use could kill another 1 billion during the 21st. By your run across Canada, you will help to avoid this foreseeable catastrophe. Thanks to you, more people will learn about the tobacco industry’s attempts to create new generations of addicts. Thanks to you, money will be raised for tobacco control programmes.

As part of the United Nations system, the World Health Organization works principally with governments to solve the world’s pressing public health problems. To the extent possible, it also engages with nongovernmental organizations like yours.

It’s good to see an individual such as you acting compellingly for the betterment of humankind. I wish you every success in your undertaking.

Sincerely,

Timothy O’Leary
Communications Officer
World Health Organization
Geneva, Switzerland