INTRODUCTION
“HOPE” – CANCER-FREE-MONGOLIA NATIONAL FOUNDATION
Marshall Kharsh
Sukhbaatar District, Khoroo 1
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolias
www.cancerfreemongolia.mn

Cancer has become one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality for not only the Mongolian population, but also of the entire humankind. The WHO has projected that in developing and poor countries this disease is likely to take 6.7 million of human lives by 2015 and 8.9 million by 2030.

In the last 10 years cancer evolved as the second cause of mortality in Mongolia with over 4000 new cases registered every year. Chronic liver diseases, harmful habits and lifestyle, deterioration of food security and air pollution are the only known factors that facilitate to development of cancerous diseases. The Mongolian Government has been making efforts to fully address and control cancer, yet, its efforts and endeavors need to be supplemented. With this particular aim and goal, the First Lady of Mongolia Mrs. Bolormaa Khajidsuren established a non-governmental organization – “Hope” – Cancer-free-Mongolia National Foundation in March 2010.

The Foundation aspires to shoulder the Mongolian Government’s and the general public’s initiatives and moves to prevent cancer, to early detect and treat, and to help the people be better informed and educated about the ways to prevent and control this calamity.

“Bolor Foundation” – A Caring Family
How it started…
Around 2005-2006, Elbegdorj and Bolormaa decided to adopt a child. They visited a couple of orphanages and care centers. After some visits, the couple decided to help not one, but several children. Thus, the couple chose to care for  and help a group called “Teddy Bears” in the Mongolian Child Care Center, and this laid the foundation to the establishment of “Bolor” Foundation.
There was a reason to why the couple cared about children and wanted to make children happy. Both Elbegee and Boloroo grew up in a family with many children, and the joys and hardships of a big family were not alien to both of them. Boloroo herself was a half-orphan from early childhood, and therefore, has always nurtured a wish to help those in need for care and warmth. Since then, the father and mother at “Bolor” Foundation have become parents to not only their 4 sons and an adopted daughter, but also several dozens of other boys and girls. The President and the First Lady strive to do their best for the wellbeing of all of their children until the children grow up and form their own families.