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Gary Hill, a member of Church of the Good Shepherd, displays the tickets which he, and other members of the church will be selling for the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tues., Mar. 4, which is a benefit to end malaria, around the world.
Kearny – Malaria is a disease caused by parasitic protozoans, which are spread by the bite of infected mosquitos. The organisms enter the body through the saliva of the mosquito,, invading the circulatory system, then, traveling to the liver where they reproduce.
The flu-like symptoms include fever and chills. If left untreated, severe complications can develop , leading to death.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), by 2010 an estimated 219 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and 660,000 people died; 91 percent of whom were in Africa. The most recently collected data indicates an alarming increase in malaria cases reported in the United States. To learn more about the symptoms and treatment of malaria, please visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/
The United Methodist Church is teaming with the Gates Foundation, and with other Christian denominations, for an all-out push to eliminate malaria from the earth. This is being accomplished through research, support of existing programs: especially distribution of medicines and mosquito nets, and, the creation of new approaches to end this endemic disease.
Tickets are on sale for the benefit Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, which will be held at Church of the Good Shepherd, in Kearny, on Tues., Mar. 4, from 5 pm – 7 pm. All proceeds will go to ‘Imagine No Malaria’, a global fund seeking to eradicate the source of malaria; especially in Africa. The dinner will be served in Ray Hall. Tickets are available, ahead of time, from church members, and tickets will also be sold at the door.
Shrove Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of the Lenten season, which leads up to Easter. Shrove Tuesday originated in medieval times, as people feasted on their richest and fattest foods before the fasting associated with Lent began. What could be more decadent than piles of crispy-edged golden pancakes, well-browned sausages and tasty beverages to wash them down with?
This annual event has long been a highlight of the community. This year, the church is inviting everyone in the Copper Basin to take part by purchasing tickets and enjoying a tasty meal, in support of the congregation’s work toward the elimination of malaria.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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