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The countdown to the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil began April 21 with the lighting of the Olympic torch. The torch will be carried from Olympia, Greece, through various countries, and will be used to open the games on Aug. 5.

Along with the traveling torch, a partner of Bread is igniting a different kind of movement. The 1,000 Days organization is the structure behind the movement to provide good nutrition to women and children in the 1,000 days between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday. 1,000 Days is teaming up with athletes and partners – including Athletes for Hope, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and many others – to shine a light on the issue of malnutrition around the world.

This campaign complements Bread’s own campaign this year, its 2016 Offering of Letters: Survive and Thrive, on nutrition and health among mothers and children.

More than 100 Olympic athletes – past, present, and hopefuls – are joining 1,000 Days and demanding that this Olympics, world leaders give kids everywhere a #FAIRSTART in life by starting the race to end malnutrition.

Why is nutrition the issue that these Olympic athletes are choosing to highlight at such a critical time? They know better than anyone that in life – as in sports – how you finish is largely determined by how you start. They are at the culmination of a lifetime of preparation and training that started with access to basic nutrition in their first 1,000 days of life. And this has played a role in getting them to where they are today.

The health and development benefits a child receives in the critical 1,000-day window can never be lost, nor can they be regained if the window is missed.

Too many children throughout the world start out life at a big disadvantage due to malnutrition. Almost 50 percent of all childhood deaths are a result of malnutrition. And 25 percent of all children are robbed of the chance to reach their full potential.

Athletes and supporters around the world are using the Olympic stage to highlight this opportunity to ensure that children everywhere are given a #FAIRSTART to reach their own full potential in life. Whether that takes them to the Olympics or just to other incredible heights, they all deserve the opportunity to be put on the right track.

1,000 Days is asking fans, parents, and supporters everywhere to sign its petition urging world leaders to start the race to end malnutrition this Olympics. Together we can give kids everywhere the #FAIRSTART they deserve!

You can help by signing the petition and sharing it with your friends.