00:00I'm delighted to be able to say a few words to mark World Osteoporosis Day.
00:06To quote the International Osteoporosis Foundation,
00:10today gives us the opportunity to unite to put the spotlight on the immense global burden
00:18caused by osteoporosis. I became involved with osteoporosis 26 years ago after my mother died
00:27as a result of this devastating disease. In those dark old days it was seldom discussed,
00:35rarely diagnosed and usually attributed to old women with so-called dowager's hubs.
00:41My family and I knew nothing about it and were at a loss to know how we could help alleviate
00:47the terrible pain she suffered. But how times have changed. Today huge strides have been made
00:55in the treatment and research into osteoporosis and we now know how it can be prevented and how
01:01we can support those who are living with it. We know it's vital to eat the right food,
01:08to take regular and weight-bearing exercise and so importantly to educate young people as to how
01:15to look after their bone health. It has of course been more challenging to get out and about this year
01:22but we must all ensure for the sake of our bones that we stay as active as possible even in
01:28the
01:28midst of a pandemic. For those living with osteoporosis there is now thankfully a wide range of treatments
01:37available to slow bone loss and increase bone mass. We are lucky to have brilliant charities all over the
01:44world offering practical and emotional help. I'm extremely proud to be the president of the Royal
01:52Osteoporosis Society which runs a helpline and a network of support groups which really do make a huge
02:00difference to thousands of sufferers across the UK. I couldn't end without saying a particular thank you
02:08to all the fantastic scientists who through their combined efforts are doing so much to find a cure for
02:16osteoporosis which 26 years ago would have been beyond my family's and many many others wildest dreams.
02:24We can therefore mark this World Osteoporosis Day with hope and confidence that together we will be able
02:31to bring an end to this silent disease that has brought such misery and pain to millions of people across
02:39the globe.
02:40We will be able to bring an end to this world.
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