PEAK4 was among the guests at the United Nations in New York last week, taking part in the PVBLIC Foundation's Global Health Futures Day during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Head of Elite Performance Duncan Watmore, director Gary Marsden and Howard Forster flew the flag for PEAK4, rubbing shoulders with world leaders, political decision-makers and investors.

Keeping people well, not just treating illness

A recurring theme was that health systems must do more than treat people once they are ill. They need to help people stay well in the first place. PEAK4 says that is the focus of its work with frontline workforces and communities across the UK, and increasingly overseas, through prevention, education and small daily habits.

The power of sport to shape healthier futures

Duncan, who joined PEAK4 earlier in the summer after retiring from professional football, following a career that took in Premier League spells with Sunderland and Middlesbrough, took to the stage for a session titled The Power of Sport to Shape Healthier Futures.

It was moderated by Robert Skinner, the United Nations’ Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement, and Watmore was joined by Olympic gold medallist Angela Ruggiero, founder of Tower Capital Group.

He said: “What an amazing experience to have the opportunity to speak at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Using the power of football, and sport more broadly, to help make the world a better place is something I’ve always been incredibly passionate about. To be able to speak about that on a stage like UNGA was a real privilege, and I felt incredibly grateful and honoured to be there.

“At PEAK4, we believe there’s a huge opportunity to take the knowledge and expertise that exists within elite sport and combine it with the incredible reach and engagement of sport to improve health and wellbeing around the world.

“That’s a mission I’m really passionate about. Sport has given me so much throughout my life and career, so to now have the opportunity to use some of those experiences and lessons to hopefully have a positive impact on people and communities around the world is incredibly exciting.”

A milestone for PEAK4

The trip to New York marked another important milestone in the PEAK4 story.

Gary said: “A few years ago, the idea of a Manchester health business standing shoulder to shoulder with government leaders and global investors at the UN would have felt like a stretch. Last week, it happened and it was a huge moment for PEAK4 and everything we’ve built.”

Emma Johnson, director, added: “Opportunities like this don’t come around often, and they don’t come by accident. To be invited into a room like that, with the people genuinely shaping the future of global health, tells us we’re doing something right, and it’s given us a real appetite to go further.”

Friends of PEAK4 at the UN

Also in New York were friends of PEAK4, Michael Clegg and his son Raef, of Oldham Athletic. Raef represented the UnitEd Youth Council at a session called Transforming Global Education: Youth, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, held in the SDG Media Zone at the UN.

PEAK4 would like to thank Sergio Fernandez de Cordova y de Veyga, Laurence Kalinsky, Kerry Bannigan and Stephen Keppel at the PVBLIC Foundation for the invitation to take part in the event.