'Smashing' Good Time at Fall Festival

By Gwen Sisson, Starkville District Communications 
 
Photo right: Elizabeth Swartz and the Rev. Raigan Miskelly of Columbus First UMC let out their frustrations against the deadly malaria disease by smashing an old car to raise money. Photo submitted to 'The Circuit Rider.'

In just two hours last Sunday, Columbus residents got out a little frustration while helping raise money for a good cause.   

Elizabeth Swartz of First UMC Columbus said at the Annual Fall Festival, held Sunday, Oct. 30, enough money was raised in two hours to buy 16 mosquito nets for the Imagine No Malaria campaign.

The "Smash Malaria" car was covered with pictures of mosquitoes. Participants were charged $1 for three "smashes" at the car. All proceeds will go to the No More Malaria Campaign. They also distributed Imagine No Malaria offering boxes, information sheets and return labels for the offering.  
 
Each mosquito net costs $10 and can save one life, as part of the No More Malaria Campaign. Mississippi Bishop James Swanson has set a goal for the Mississippi Conference Mission Focus to provide 100,000 mosquito nets for Imagine No Malaria by the 2017 annual conference.   

Research says that in Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria continues to kill a child every two minutes. The campaign says, "by improving the ways people fight the disease using bed nets, providing access to diagnostic tests and medicine, draining standing water and improving sanitation, Imagine No Malaria has already helped reduce malaria deaths by more than half. Imagine No Malaria combines integrated health infrastructure, education, and advocacy to address death and the debilitating effects of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa."   

For more information or resources, go to www.imaginenomalaria.org