Champions like you make a difference

What a way to start the day! On Thursday morning, Elizabeth McKee and I met our partners and friends, Diego and Ginna Gutierrez, Larry Hollon of the People of the United Methodist Church, and Andrea Lewis with Idol Gives Back to catch up and prepare for a panel about the importance of innovative partnerships that bring new champions like you to the fight against malaria. Elizabeth McKee moderated the panel which also included Stephen O'Brien, MP for Eddisbury and Shadow Health Minister in the United Kingdom and Chairman, Malaria Consortium.

This panel offered the opportunity to talk about how individual engagement is one of the key components of the overall comprehensive plan to beat malaria. Each person stressed the importance of individual contributions to the fight against malaria. When Diego was asked how he felt about Gates' call for eradication of malaria, he said that he and his wife, Ginna, had always planned on continuing the fight until every child was saved.

All of the scientists, researchers, development workers and country leaders were deeply impressed by the general public's support of malaria prevention. When everyone works together, we are all champions and can save lives.