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Lions boost kids’ net revenue

Central Saanich Club donates to Kelset mosquito net project
31734sidneyPNRMosquitoNetUpdate
Levi

After seeing the story on Levi and Anya Viinikka’s mosquito net project at Kelset Elementary School in January, the Central Saanich Lions club mobilized to do what they do best — give back.

“As soon as we saw the story in the Peninsula News Review it jumped right off the page, and we knew we wanted to support the effort,” said Ron Basi, President of the Central Saanich Lions Club.

Club members attended the school on Tuesday and presented a cheque for $500 to Levi, 9, and Anya, 7, to put towards the school-wide fundraising effort.

“We’re really excited at how much we already raised,” said Levi.

The brother and sister team spearheaded the initiative to raise $4,050 by Feb. 28 to go towards purchasing mosquito nets for families in Zimbabwe. The nets, which cost about $10 each, are designed to keep mosquitos at bay while families sleep, therefore decreasing the chances of malaria.

Schools all over Canada are participating in the initiative which is being sponsored through Plan Canada.

So far Kelset is ranking at about ninth place in terms of funds raised, said Levi and Anya’s mother, Jennifer.

Jennifer added that the current tally of funds raised by Kelset is at just under $3,300.

The top fundraising elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools are visited by Rick Mercer who is the co-founder of Spread the Net, and get to appear on an episode of the Rick Mercer Report.

Those interested in donating to the mosquito net fundraiser (before Feb. 28) can drop off cash donations at the school, visit http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=2183521 to donate online or text the KELSET keyword NETS55 to 30333 to make a $10 donation (a $10 donation will be added to the user’s mobile phone bill).

To view the YouTube video visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtMfYMyQ20I&feature=youtu.be.