Lady Hornets Shooting to Stifle Spread of Malaria

The Saline varsity girls basketball team will be shooting for “Nothing But Nets” when it squares off against Dexter at home Tuesday night.

The Lady Hornets hope to win Tuesday’s Southeastern Conference game. But they're also aiming a bit higher. The game will double as a fundraiser by offering the community several ways to contribute to Nothing But Nets, a campaign to collect donations to purchase and distribute insecticide-treated bed nets in hopes of preventing malaria, a disease that causes 200 million illnesses a year and annually kills almost 1 million people—mostly children under the age of 5.

"Because of the play on words, we think our basketball team will be great representatives for raising awareness and donations for Nothing But Nets," said junior point guard Maura McCann. "We will be calling on our fellow students, teachers and citizens of Saline for support. A donation of $10 will supply one bed net, with 100 percent of each donation used for purchase, distribution to families and providing education on the proper use of the net." 

There are several ways to contribute. There will be a 50-50 raffle at the game. There will also be a bake sale. In addition, McCann and her teammates have set up a “NET-raiser” team page where Saline girls basketball friends, family and fans can make Internet donations on behalf of the team.

“We wanted to do something that helped bring the team together but also raised funds and awareness for an important issue,” said McCann.

The junior varsity game tips off at 5:30 p.m. The varsity game starts at about 7 p.m.

To donate to the Lady Hornets’ fundraiser, click here.

To learn more about Nothing But Nets, click here.