Dunk Malaria

This initiative draws on partnership, and the power of sport, to stimulate awareness and action to fight malaria. Officially announced at the New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks game at Madison Square Garden in New York (USA), on March 15 2006, Dunk Malaria is being launched through a public sporting event wherein fans can try their skills with a small, portable basketball hoop passed around the arena, learn about the disease, and find out how to donate toward prevention of the disease. "Sport is a universal language," in the words of Djibril Diallo, Director of the New York Office of the UN sports programme. "At its best, sport can bring people together non matter what their origin or their background."

Drawing on this strategy, Dunk Malaria involves "slam dunk" contests, 3-point shooting contests, and foul shooting contests. This initiative draws on the fact that it is free to shoot baskets, and the hoops themselves are ubiquitous - organisers say that baskets will be posted at gas pumps; volunteers will wheel baskets through hospitals; kids without baskets will take shots through tires; churches, mosques and synagogues will post baskets by the exits; movie theatres will place baskets at the ticket window; and people will take shots in driveways, gyms, and outdoor courts.

Dunk Malaria centres around asking citizens around the world to take part in Malaria Action Day (MAD) on March 19 each year by organising a community-based event to raise money for or awareness about malaria. The idea is that "Your shot shows you care and are willing to back up your care with action." People are asked to get people together to shoot a basketball shot for malaria, or to join a group organising such an event. Visitors to the Dunk Malaria website may download sample forms for organisers or participants that may be customised with particular MAD event information and the like. An online discussion email list has been set up to enable the sharing of ideas and experiences with other organisers and participants. Those taking part in MAD are asked to tell their family, friends and neighbours about their engagement and to encourage them to also take part - such as by having a photo taken of their basketball shot and then uploading it to the project website.

Stimulating young people to take action is another key strategy. The Malaria Cup is a competition for colleges and universities to see which can organise the most people to shoot a basketball shot in order to raise awareness of malaria. A school (student) leader organises a group from his or her school, registering by sending an email (to vs.malaria@gmail.com), and then asking members of the group to take shots anytime prior to African Malaria Day (April 25 2006).

In association with Hedge Funds vs. Malaria and the Free Africa Foundation, Dunk Malaria is using the funds raised through the grassroots efforts described above to distribute bednets and initial mosquito spraying in 3 villages - deemed "Malaria Free Zones" - in Ghana, Africa.

Health, Children.

According to organisers, malaria kills 3 million children worldwide each year (more than AIDS and cancer combined), even though malaria is a completely preventable disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. Despite this, malaria "is the worst marketed disease in world history". That is, over 95% of those surveyed in the United States are unaware that millions of children are dying from malaria, but "there is no large-scale malaria lobby in Washington. There is no organized large-scale malaria PR [public relations] effort. There are few relevant charitable efforts focused exclusively on malaria. Governmental spending on malaria control initiatives worldwide are inexcusably low (and difficult to audit). These problems are exacerbated by the fact that malaria is normally subsumed under the overall banner of world poverty and aids. Malaria needs to stand out on its own. We believe that only by making malaria an independent cause can it be eradicated."

The UN New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace organises activities to demonstrate the power of sport to contribute to health, education, development and peace. The office rallies sports and cultural stars in support of these efforts, with special outreach to youth. Hedge Funds vs Malaria is a partnership of the Hedge Fund community seeking to raise awareness and funds to roll back the malaria epidemic through events, communication, education and fundraising.