April 8, 2008

Throughout April, visitors to the Nothing But Nets Web site (at http://www.NothingButNets.net/) can play an interactive game to deliver virtual sleeping nets to Africa and, in the process, raise money to buy real insecticide-treated nets through the malaria prevention campaign.

It's all part of a renewed push for the United Methodist-supported Nets campaign leading up to World Malaria Day on April 25.

The "Deliver the Net" game challenges players to deliver as many virtual nets as possible before the sun goes down and malaria-carrying mosquitoes come out to bite.

Each time someone plays and signs up at http://www.NothingButNets.net/ during April, an anonymous sponsor will donate $10 for a life-saving net.

"It's never been easier to send a net and save a life!" the Web site states about the game.

The people of The United Methodist Church are a founding partner in Nothing But Nets, a global, grassroots campaign that raised more than $18 million from 60,000 donors during its first year.

"World Malaria Day is an important reminder to get involved in the fight against malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa," said Bishop Thomas Bickerton, spokesperson for Nothing But Nets in behalf of the 11.5 million-member denomination.

"This is a fun and easy way to help save lives. We hope that all United Methodists will play the game and tell others about it. We want to blanket Africa with bed nets."

Every $10 raised buys and distributes a net to a child in Africa under age 5 – one of whom dies every 30 seconds from malaria. The World Health Organization estimates that 300-500 million cases of malaria occur each year.

Campaign organizers say insecticide-treated nets are a simple and inexpensive way to protect children from mosquitoes that carry the killer disease.

Nothing But Nets was inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly and created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. In addition to United Methodists and the U.N. Foundation, the founding partners include the National Basketball Association's NBA Cares and Sports Illustrated.

United Methodist News Service
This story is based on a news release from the Office of Public Information for The United Methodist Church.