Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds in Africa, and bed nets are the most cost-effective way to protect children from the mosquitoes that carry this killer disease. The United Methodist Church is a founding partner in the Nothing But Nets campaign, and in support of that effort, Pastor Paul is participating in Nothing But Nets for Nothing But Sweat a 230 mile ride to raise $100,000. For each $10 donation, an insecticide-treated bed net is purchased and distributed to Africa, where education also is provided about its use. Checks can be made out to "PUMC," but please notate “Nothing But Nets” on your check.

Malaria is caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Infected humans experience flu-like symptoms that can result in coma and death. It infects more than 500 million people annually and kills more than a million.  The disease is a self-perpetuating problem with large-scale impact on societies and economies. The effects permeate almost every sector. Malaria increases school absenteeism, decreases tourism, inhibits foreign investment, and even affects the type of crops that are grown. The price of a bed net is $10.  The price of doing nothing is even higher:

• Malaria accounts for up to half of all hospital admissions and outpatient visits in Africa and is a leading killer of children.
• Each year the resulting illness and death cost Africa approximately $12 billion in lost productivity.
• Every 30 seconds, another person dies from malaria.

Malaria Can Be Stopped!
Malaria is preventable and treatable. It can be prevented by giving families and individuals insecticide-treated bed nets to sleep under and taking steps to kill mosquitoes where they breed and when they enter houses to feed at night. At the same time, anti-malarial drugs such as artemisinin and other combination therapies that are widely available can treat malaria before it becomes deadly. Malaria has been brought under control and even eliminated in many parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Yet in Africa, with increasing drug resistance and struggling health systems, malaria infections have actually increased during the last three decades.

How Can We Make a Difference?
Despite the magnitude of the problem, there is a simple and cost-effective solution to prevent malaria deaths. For just $10, we can purchase a bed net, deliver it to a family, and explain its use. Bed nets work by creating a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transmissions occur. A family of four can sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net, safe from malaria, for up to four years. The benefits of bed nets extend even further than the family. When enough nets are used, the insecticide used to deter mosquitoes makes entire communities safer—even those who do not have nets.

Although $10 for a bed net may not sound like much, the cost makes them out of reach for most people at risk of malaria, many of whom survive on less than $1 a day. Nets are a simple, life-saving solution, but we need your help to provide them to those in need. For more information go to the Nothing But Nets website. Then please support the Nothing But Sweat effort as a rider, volunteer helper or with your financial donations.

Nothing But Sweat is a radical attempt to raise at least $100,000 for the Nothing But Nets Campaign through a four-day, 230 mile ride from Houston to Fort Worth. The dates for the ride are Sunday, April 20th to Wednesday, April 23rd. The ride will also serve as a conduit for communicating information about Nothing But Nets and garnering support for the campaign through sponsorships. We also hope to promote fellowship among the United Methodists who ride, those who provide primary support and those churches along the way who will host riders and the support team.

So why are we riding on a bunch of bicycles to Fort Worth in the middle of April?  Wednesday, April 23rd, marks the beginning of General Conference, a gathering of United Methodists from all over the world. This meeting will take place in Fort Worth, Texas. Our ride will end as this event is beginning. Once there, we will be able to celebrate the gift we are bringing with other United Methodists as it is being presented. The gift will be presented to one of the Bishops of our church and, we hope, some of the delegates representing United Methodists across the African continent.