Sally Furniss
Well-known member
U.S. catches malaria dance fever
MERRITT ISLAND - Dancing feet are the weapon of choice against malaria in Stayin' Alive, a high school initiative to eradicate the killer of 1 million children each year.
Stayin' Alive, launched two months ago at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy near Melbourne, has gone national with schools committing to hosting fundraiser dances that help the organization buy bed nets to combat malaria.
"We have 50 schools in 30 different states, and we also have three schools in Nigeria who found us through the Web and want to participate," said Colleen Middlebrooks, the organization's national coordinator.
Stayin' Alive is the teen arm of Malaria No More, an organization formed from the 2006 White House Summit on Malaria.
Malaria, termed "Public Health Enemy No. 1" by the World Health Organization, most seriously affects children younger than 5. In Africa, where 90 percent of malaria deaths occur, it is responsible for one in four childhood deaths. Almost half of the world's population is at risk for the disease.
Deaths from malaria are easily preventable with insecticide-treated mosquito nets that cost about $10.
With the help of 10,000 school dances nationwide, Stayin' Alive aims to raise $10 million to provide 1 million bed nets that will protect 2 million vulnerable children.
Based in Brevard, Middlebrooks travels the nation to recruit schools.
"We are attending major student council and leadership conferences around the country because these are the leaders who get excited about an idea and bring it back to the schools," Middlebrooks said.
The aim is to encourage schools nationwide to host a total of 10,000 dances or school events in the next three years, each raising $1,000 to purchase bed nets. What Middlebrooks has found is that individual schools are far exceeding the organization's expectations.
Because of the efforts of Merritt Island High Student Council President Colin Moynahan and Vice President Zack Parker, the school raised $5,000 for Stayin' Alive. "They were the first public school in the country to participate, and their goal was $1,000," Middlebrooks said.
Viera High was close behind with a check for $3,200 from one of its dances. Holy Trinity raised $5,200 with two dances.
Stayin' Alive recently received a big push from the media source of choice for adolescents, MTV, which has agreed to feature it on www.think.mtv.com, an effort to raise social consciousness.
"We're in talks with them about other possibilities, too," Middlebrooks said. Hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean also has volunteered to do a Stayin' Alive public service announcement.
Middlebrooks is optimistic that by the end of this year, at least one school from every state will have agreed to join the initiative.
"We want to let teenagers know how it easy it is to fight malaria," she said. "All you have to do is dance."
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071118/NEWS01/711180329&template=news0306
MERRITT ISLAND - Dancing feet are the weapon of choice against malaria in Stayin' Alive, a high school initiative to eradicate the killer of 1 million children each year.
Stayin' Alive, launched two months ago at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy near Melbourne, has gone national with schools committing to hosting fundraiser dances that help the organization buy bed nets to combat malaria.
"We have 50 schools in 30 different states, and we also have three schools in Nigeria who found us through the Web and want to participate," said Colleen Middlebrooks, the organization's national coordinator.
Stayin' Alive is the teen arm of Malaria No More, an organization formed from the 2006 White House Summit on Malaria.
Malaria, termed "Public Health Enemy No. 1" by the World Health Organization, most seriously affects children younger than 5. In Africa, where 90 percent of malaria deaths occur, it is responsible for one in four childhood deaths. Almost half of the world's population is at risk for the disease.
Deaths from malaria are easily preventable with insecticide-treated mosquito nets that cost about $10.
With the help of 10,000 school dances nationwide, Stayin' Alive aims to raise $10 million to provide 1 million bed nets that will protect 2 million vulnerable children.
Based in Brevard, Middlebrooks travels the nation to recruit schools.
"We are attending major student council and leadership conferences around the country because these are the leaders who get excited about an idea and bring it back to the schools," Middlebrooks said.
The aim is to encourage schools nationwide to host a total of 10,000 dances or school events in the next three years, each raising $1,000 to purchase bed nets. What Middlebrooks has found is that individual schools are far exceeding the organization's expectations.
Because of the efforts of Merritt Island High Student Council President Colin Moynahan and Vice President Zack Parker, the school raised $5,000 for Stayin' Alive. "They were the first public school in the country to participate, and their goal was $1,000," Middlebrooks said.
Viera High was close behind with a check for $3,200 from one of its dances. Holy Trinity raised $5,200 with two dances.
Stayin' Alive recently received a big push from the media source of choice for adolescents, MTV, which has agreed to feature it on www.think.mtv.com, an effort to raise social consciousness.
"We're in talks with them about other possibilities, too," Middlebrooks said. Hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean also has volunteered to do a Stayin' Alive public service announcement.
Middlebrooks is optimistic that by the end of this year, at least one school from every state will have agreed to join the initiative.
"We want to let teenagers know how it easy it is to fight malaria," she said. "All you have to do is dance."
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071118/NEWS01/711180329&template=news0306