Nothing But Nets

Taking part in the United Against Malaria events on Capital Hill last week opened my eyes to an aspect of being a spokesperson that I had not yet contemplated. Over the years, I have shared with you all the details of my trips to Africa, essentially being the voice for the mothers and children that I encountered whose lives are fatally touched by malaria. I have also had the opportunity to share my experiences here in the United States, from elementary school drives to faith-based activities to our own sporting events.

My recent visit to Congress shed light on an area that until now has eluded my attention:  encouraging YOU to use YOUR voice. I am slightly ashamed to admit that I was naïve to the world of advocacy and politics. As a spokesperson I just assumed that my job was to create awareness and encourage people to make the simple $10 donation to save a life. I did not realize that your voice is equally as important and impactful as your financial contribution. From the Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office to various other members of Congress that we visited, there proved to be a common theme throughout all of our meetings. 

This weekend, thousands of people around the world are showing their commitment to ending malaria deaths by 2015 by Sleeping Out, sending nets, throwing fundraisers, and spreading the buzz about malaria prevention. Sunday, April 25, is World Malaria Day – and just in time for this annual day of recognition for the cause, the World Bank has made an astounding commitment of their own: they are pledging $200 million to provide people in sub Saharan Africa with bed nets.

This announcement comes just days after a progress report from Roll Back Malaria stated that we are making an impact with net distributions, but that there is still a long road ahead. The report claims that 350 million nets are needed for universal coverage. WHO’s pledge is in part due to a call for action from the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pushed for a global goal of ending malaria deaths by 2015, with a supplemental goal of providing people at risk of malaria with malaria control interventions by the end of this year. 

It’s just two days until the Sleep Out to End Malaria, and only three days to World Malaria Day. We’re overwhelmed with the support coming from every corner of the globe -- everyone from moms and soccer players, to corporations and congregations, showing their commitment to end malaria deaths by 2015.

With the big day so close, I want to share the story of a supporter who has gone the extra mile and supported the UN Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign from day one -- and she’ll be one of thousands this Saturday Sleeping Out to End Malaria on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus.

Watch this special video of 9-year-old Katherine Commale’s journey as a Nothing But Nets Champion. She and her family have sent thousands of nets and saved many more lives.

Yesterday former MLS player Diego Gutierrez, WNBA star Ruth Riley and 9-year-old Katherine Commale led the way as we brought the grassroots movement to end malaria deaths to Capitol Hill. Joined by our United Against Malaria partners, including Malaria No More and PSI, our Champions brought your messages of support to the offices of Representative Donald Payne, Senator Judd Gregg and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Our feet were sore but our spirits were high as we met with policy-makers to talk about the importance of continued U.S. leadership in the global fight to end malaria deaths in Africa through both malaria prevention and treatment measures.

Following the full day of meetings, our Champions joined United Against Malaria Champion Molly Sims and MLS players Danleigh Borman and Clyde Simms to present more than 20,000 names of individuals across the country who are committed to helping end malaria. Thank you for signing our message to political leaders! 

You know the Game Plan: you, me, and thousands of others around the world are going to Sleep Out to End Malaria this Saturday night! You’ve been sending us your Sleep Out plans from dance parties, concerts, camping trips, business conferences, church lock-ins, and university Sleep Outs, and we’ve adding them to the map. With five more days until World Malaria Day, we already have more than 55 Sleep Outs on five continents and in 21 states across the U.S. (See our Sleep Out map below!) Together we are sleeping out so others can sleep safely!

If you live in Los Angeles, Nashville, Seattle, Philadelphia, New York, or Washington, DC, then we want you to be part of history. Join us at a featured Sleep Out event on a college campus near you. Celebrities, rock bands, professional athletes, film producers, and students are all grabbing their symbolic net-scarf to Sleep Out with us and spread the buzz about malaria. You can be a part of the team!

Even as I put on my Buzzkill shirt and filled my suitcase full of soccer balls to head up to the New York Red Bulls game for a Nothing But Nets/United Against Malaria title night, it was easy to take for granted the fact that malaria is not an issue that personally touches us daily.

Running very late, and with my taxi waiting outside, I rushed to grab my items for the trip and in doing so forgot the one piece of equipment that it is becoming harder to live without lately -- my blackberry. A mile down the road my kind taxi driver turned around so I could retrieve the forgotten equipment, and then finally we were on our way. Perhaps due to this frantic start, it wasn't until we were more than halfway to the train station that my taxi driver started up a conversation by asking me where I was going and what I was doing there. I shared with him that I was going to a soccer game and my teammates and I were going to have a booth set up to educate soccer fans about getting involved with malaria prevention. 

As cool as the Nothing But Nets Buzz Tour looks in photos and online - it’s even cooler in person! I got to jump on the Nothing But Nets Buzz Tour in Kansas City last weekend and I’ll admit -- when I landed in KC I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going. But I trusted that I would find the big blue bus along the road … and sure enough, as I drove through the Rockhurst University campus it was there in the midst of the athletic fields. It’s hard to miss!

The Buzz Tour made it to the Final Four! From Ohio, we rolled on to the NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, and our fans made us feel like champs!  We set up shop in Celebration Plaza where Nothing But Nets and Mozzie scored big—the Stone Temple Pilots jammed out on stage while thousands of people came by to learn about how they can join the movement to end malaria and take pictures with Mozzie—one of these photos ended up in the Indianapolis Star! Are you in any of them? It was wonderful to see how many of our supporters had already heard about us through NBA Cares, one of our founding partners.