Chip Away Malaria selling Pistons tickets to purchase bed nets
Chip Away Malaria will use Detroit Pistons games in its effort to aid global funds with the fight against malaria.
“Death totals for malaria continue to climb, and we have to end the threat,” said member and Mount Pleasant graduate student Greg Adamson.
By partnering with the Pistons, the student organization is selling discounted tickets for upper and lower bowl seating to nine home games this season.
“Our goal is to sell 1,000 tickets,” said member and Illinois graduate student Ryan Lambert.
Canton graduate student Scott George said the organization will sell upper bowl tickets for $20, which regularly sell for $40, and lower bowl tickets for $40 that regularly sell for $65.
“For each ticket sale, $10 will be donated to purchase bed nets for those in need,” George said.
George said the offer is the best way to purchase a ticket to a Pistons game because, with the discount, there is not a cheaper ticket offer out there.
Basketball for a cause
This will be the third year Chip Away Malaria is raising money for disease prevention efforts for areas in Africa that cannot afford malaria vaccines or proper health care.
“Most working adults in high poverty areas only make about six cents and hour, whereas the cheapest malaria vaccine is $6,” Adamson said.
One bed net purchased for $10 can help save four lives at a 95 percent success rate, George said.
George said the organization began as a class project, but has turned into a continually growing and expanding cause. He would like to see the organization continue at CMU and began trying to get other student organizations involved by asking them to sell tickets.
“We’re always looking for new members, especially since many group members are graduating soon,” George said.
So far, the group has raised $30,000 since it was established in the fall of 2006. With the money raised, Chip Away Malaria has supplied 3,000 bed nets for those in need, helping to save about 750 lives.
Those interested in purchasing tickets can find the list of dates for the nine games and the discounted offer on the Palace of Auburn Hills Web site, or by following the link from chipawaymalaria.org.
