London Marathon 2012

Michelle O'Brien, a member of Compassion UK staff, is gearing up to push herself to the limit in this year's London Marathon.

Michelle will be raising money for a malaria-prevention project supplying 30,000 PermaNet® mosquito nets to Compassion children and their families from 90 at risk Compassion projects in Uganda, a country where there are 111 malaria deaths per 1,000 people. This project has shown to be even more necessary in light of recent research published in the British medical journal, The Lancet, suggesting that 1.24 million people died from malaria in 2010, nearly double the figure of 655,000 previously estimated by the World Health Organisation.

The cost of 30,000 PermaNet® mosquito nets is £95,000 - as little as £3 per net. The funds raised will also go towards providing training sessions for families about preventing and treating malaria. Michelle commented, "I am hoping to raise as much money as I can to contribute towards this project. For me personally, every £3 that is raised is potentially another life saved. The sacrifice of a few months' training (I know, it should be more) seems the least I can do!"

Please join us in praying for Michelle as she continues to train and prepare for this exciting challenge.

For more information about Compassion's response to malaria, please see our recent press release.