Real Life Stories
ukDinah Hawes
Dinah decided to join the fight against malaria when she saw a Comic Relief programme on TV about the devastating effects of malaria throughout Africa. She was struck by the fact that just £5 is enough to buy, deliver and hang a mosquito net to protect a mother and child from malaria for up to five years. To her, malaria seemed simply too easy a problem to solve that she just had to get involved!
Dinah is the owner of two dogs that she takes regularly into nursing homes, as part of the ‘Pets for Therapy’ scheme. When one of her dogs, Maisie, became unsuitable for visiting, she seized the opportunity to undertake a unique challenge for Malaria No More UK, with Maisie by her side.
I realised I could do something on my doorstep that would take no time to organise
Dinah lives in Sheringham on the stunning North Norfolk coast, and is an enthusiastic walker. It seemed natural for her to undertake a challenge on her doorstep that would be relatively easy and cost-effective to organise – to walk with Maisie along the entire stretch of coastline, a total of 48 miles. Starting in seaside town of Cromer, Dinah walked for about 8 hours a day, ending up in the resort of Huntstanton three days later.
A first-time fundraiser, Dinah opted to set up a web page with JustGiving to make it as straightforward as possible for her friends and family to support her in her efforts. Describing the service a “fantastic” way to raise funds, Dinah attracted the support of over 40 sponsors, who helped her raise over £400 to support our work to end malaria.
More real life stories
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Alex Carter
Alex Carter is taking on a 1,422 mile Ultra Triathlon to help make malaria no more! Alex’s triathlon will start on 13 August
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Jo Yirrell
Nothing can ever change my feelings of grief after losing Harry but I know that he would want me to dedicate myself to saving others from malaria.
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Peter Moszynski
Some years ago when I first went to work in Africa as a wide-eyed novice aid worker, fresh out of college, I had my first close encounter with tropical diseases.
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Mamas Otsieditse and Amos
If you are a volunteer health worker in Botswana, you’re also a life saver. ‘Mamas’ Otsieditse and Amos volunteer in their local community to raise vital awareness about the life threatening dangers of malaria and how to prevent it.
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Kedibonye Motlalepula
Mum of three Kedibonye often worries about whether her children will catch malaria. Two of them are under five years old and therefore at heightened risk from severe malaria – which can be deadly in young children.
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Bismark Amankwaah, Physician's Assistant
Bismark is on the front line of the malaria fight in his role as a Physician’s Assistant at Ejura hospital. “Around 70% of the 200 patients we see every day are suspected to have malaria. There are only two hospitals in this district and people come far to get here. Sometimes they come too late with severe malaria and it can be fatal.
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Ketsholike Monginya
Parenting in Botswana is tough, especially when you run the daily risk of contracting a life threatening disease. Father of six and full time farmer Ketsholikei has got used to battling with malaria and although only 26, he has contracted malaria three times in recent years.
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Thomas Sandow, Ghanaian Malaria Volunteer, 28
I volunteer with a malaria prevention project in my community, Dromankuma, in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. Volunteering was an easy decision for me: I want to do all I can to help prevent others from going through the pain endured by my two year old daughter Irene when she had severe malaria last year.
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Rra Poroto
Okavango Region of Botswana, a country that has cut malaria cases by more than half in the last decade. He’s been championing malaria education campaigns as part of a malaria prevention programme that we helped fund last year, thanks to your support.
