When we were in Kampala back in February, we visited an AIDS hospital that is funded in part by Compassion. After a short information session about the work the hospital does, our guide (his name was Damon, and he was seventeen different kinds of BONAFIDE AWESOME) escorted us to a lovely outdoor cafeteria so we could visit with some of the hospital staff.
Shaw-awn and I sat next to one of the hospital’s doctors, and after a few minutes of pleasantries, I asked him if it was frustrating to be a physician in Uganda. Much to my surprise, his eyes filled with tears. And he nodded.
“It’s tough,” he said, “because our children die from preventable diseases. AIDS is preventable. Malaria is preventable. But our people don’t have access to medicine. They don’t have access to mosquito nets. Mosquito nets are so inexpensive, and they can save children’s lives. But there aren’t enough to go around.”
I looked at Shaun, then looked at Spence, and I said, “Is there something we can do about that? Is there something Compassion can do about that?”
“Absolutely,” Spence said. “We’re working on something right now.”
And that something is called Bite Back.
This Friday, April 25, is World Malaria Day. And through the Bite Back campaign, people can give a one-time donation of $10 and provide a mosquito net for a child – or a family, if they’re all sleeping in the same place – who otherwise would have no protection from this completely preventable disease. That $10 will also provide education and treatment for people who are already sick with malaria.
My sweet friend Anne has challenged her readers to donate 50 nets in 50 hours. And I’m totally going to follow her lead here at BooMama: The Blawg. Remember, this is a one-time donation, not a long-term commitment.
So here’s how you can help.
Click here to donate $10 that will provide a mosquito net for a child (you can donate more than that if you feel led). Each net lasts three years, so for $3.33 a year – less than a penny a day – you can save a child’s life.
And if you just can’t spare $10 right now but still want to help, then link to this post from your blog. Help to get the word out and encourage your readers to give. Here’s the banner code.
Here’s a smaller button if you’d rather have that for your sidebar.
And whether you donate or you link, please come back here and leave a comment so that I can thank you on behalf of the sweet children you’re helping. All you have to say is “I’m in.”
However, you’re certainly welcome to say more than that. Because, after all, I’m not very strong with the brevity.
50 nets in 50 hours. WE CAN TOTALLY DO THIS.
I’ll close comments at 9 pm central Friday night.
Thanks so much, y’all.
Comments are now closed – thank you SO MUCH!
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I’m in! What a wonderful challenge.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I’m in!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I’m in. What a difference such a small amount can make.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
i linked to boomama, hope it helps. and i so want to be witty and funny so boomama will like me. but i don’t have time for that. so, i’m gonna pull out the big guns – i’m not sure why, but it’s really important that boomama like me – and i think maybe the love boomama has for compassion might translate or transfer or trans-something into like for the spouse of a compassion employee. and i’m sure i’ve scared you.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I linked to you, Boo Mama. I will be praying that it helps, and that they get all the nets they need. :-)
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Im in!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
We’re in over here. Thank you for opening our eyes to Compassion. My kidlets picked out two children to sponsor and they’ve been praying for them faithfully.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I’m all in Sophie.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I donated five. Do you know how we can make sure that our sponsored Compassion children have nets?
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I’m in
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I’m definitely in! Thank you for making it so easy for us to support such a wonderful endeavor!
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
i’m going to haiti in 2 weeks and i’m going to post this on my blog for everyone to see as they check in on our haiti trip. thanks for the tip! (i’m in) :)
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I’m in — 5 nets worth!
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I’m in. Thanks for making us aware of this.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Hey Boo, I linked you and Bite Back on my blog…
J
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Done!
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I’m in for both! I already made my donation and posted.
It amazes me how so little to us can make such a big difference to others.
Blessings.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I put the link on my blog too!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I put up the button tonight, will donate tomorrow when I’m closer to my purse. Incidentally the button gets cut-off on my Blogger sidebar (right side). It says, “Bite Bacl,” but I think the point is still made. Thought you might want to shrink the button a little in case it’s doing that for others.
Which is to say:
“I’m i”
M
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Done! I also posted the banner in my sidebar, and wrote a post directing people over here.
Thanks so much for spreading the word on this!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I’m in times 5. Adding the link to my blog too.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I am in for two nets. The least I could do. Thank you for keeping this kind of thing out there for us to see!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 pm
In!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I’m in!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Oh, I am so in!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Hello from Portland, Oregon! I work for Compassion so thanks for the tout! You know about the Malaria Intervention Webcast tomorrow, yeah?
http://blog.compassion.com/malaria-intervention-webcast/
Take care and thanks again!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:07 am
I’m in, linked, and got my first letter from my second sponsored child yesterday!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:15 am
I linked to you!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:42 am
I’m in! Posted and linked, my friend. ;-)
April 24th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Linked up and done!
April 24th, 2008 at 5:22 am
I’m in – for three!
Thanks for the opportunity.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:58 am
I’m in and I linked back over here. Thanks for making us all aware of this!
April 24th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I’m in! I’ll attempt to link :)
April 24th, 2008 at 7:25 am
I’m in
April 24th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I’m in!! Thanks for this great opportunity!
April 24th, 2008 at 7:44 am
I’m in. And there’s a link on my blog, too.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I’m in! Thanks for doing this, you rock! :)
April 24th, 2008 at 7:55 am
I’m in. And I don’t think you’re going to need 50 hours…
April 24th, 2008 at 7:58 am
I’M IN!!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I’m in, and I posted the link and your banner on my blog as well. Thanks!!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I’m in!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I’m in!