Mayor Adams, Commissioners Vasan and Mermelstein, UN delegates, athletes, entertainers, New Yorkers!
Thank you all for coming here to join us at the second Walk the Talk New York Health for All Challenge.
I thank the Global Scrub Choir, Sherrie Silver, Kim Sledge, Ricky Kej and Doug E. Fresh for your performances, all our health partners, and NYC Runs for your support in organizing today’s event.
Some of you were here in Central Park four years ago, when we held our first Walk the Talk New York. We had planned for the event to be an annual one.
But as you all know, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged just a few months later – wreaking havoc around the world and delaying our return to Central Park – until now.
But the pandemic underscored just why we are here today – because when health is at risk, everything is at risk.
This week there will be a lot of talking – and don’t get me wrong, talking has its place.
At three high-level meetings this week, countries will talk about how to make the world safer from epidemics and pandemics.
They will talk about how to make universal health coverage a reality.
And they will talk about how to turn the tide on tuberculosis.
But talking alone is not enough. We need countries to walk the talk.
We need real commitment, supported by real investment and real action.
The decisions that world leaders make this week could protect and promote health for billions of people.
But you don’t have to be a world leader to make a difference.
Today, each of us can make the choice to protect and promote our own health.
Walking, running, rolling, cycling – any form of physical activity – is a great way to do that.
As you can see, I won’t be able to do much walking today – I was in Namibia a couple of weeks ago, missed a step and broke a bone in my foot.
So I need you to walk for me, and to send a message to the world: walk the talk!
Because health is not a luxury, it’s a human right for everyone! Thank you New York!