For the second year in a row, students at Edwin Parr Composite (EPC) in Athabasca will be spreading the word about a student challenge that aims to raise awareness and help people in Africa.
The Spread the Net student challenge is an initiative of Plan Canada designed to educate and inspire Canadians to help end preventable malaria deaths by supporting the purchase and distribution of bed nets, along with training on their use, to children and their families. Spread the Net was founded in 2006 by Belinda Stronach, P.C., and Rick Mercer, and was acquired by Plan Canada in 2013.
Morgan LaPierre, an EPC Grade 12 student that is part of the Interact club who is organizing the campaign at the school, explained EPC finished third last year in selling the $10 bed nets and gather donations through the webpage they have.
LaPierre added this fundraiser is different for them in a few ways.
“Normally, its hard for people to get invested and see the impact of what we do,” she said. “With Spread the Net, they can see how it works and that makes it easy to get them involved. You can see the impact of one child dying every minute from malaria.”
LaPierre is hoping the club can generate more donations this year, as the top school gets a visit from and an appearance on Rick Mercer’s television program.
To to donate and EPC, go to http://plancanada.ca/spreadthenet and follow the donation links to the Edwin Parr Composite page.
