Spread the Net against malaria

Each year, malaria kills an estimated 438,000 people, and it remains the leading cause of death of children under 5 in Africa.

Since 2007, Spread the Net has helped protect the lives of over 41 million people by contributing to the delivery of more than 19 million malaria-preventing bed nets to families in Africa.

Rick Mercer speaks to students gathered in a school Gym

Spread the Net
Student Challenge

Join the global movement to end malaria and participate in the Challenge!

Co-founded by Rick Mercer and Belinda Stronach in 2006, the Spread the Net Student Challenge is a friendly competition between Canadian schools to raise funds for bed nets. The top fundraising elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools receive a visit from Rick Mercer himself and appear on an episode of the Rick Mercer Report!

What’s the world’s deadliest creature? #SpreadtheNet

Watch Charlie McDonnell explain what makes this disease so deadly and what Plan International Canada and you can do to stop it!

Mother and child sitting on a bed infront of mosquito net

See the impact we've made and meet some of the people who've benefited through the support of the Spread the Net Student Challenge!

Are you ready for the Challenge?

Important Dates:

Registration closed

2017 Student Challenge winners

Beaverly Elementary in Prince George, BC raised $26,900
Father Mercredi High School in Fort McMurray, AB raised $10,168
Langara College in Vancouver, BC raised $14,625
The Wild Card submission winner this year is R.A. Riddell School in Hamilton ON

Thank you to everyone who participated in last year's Spread the Net Student Challenge! Thanks to your hard work we raised over $150,000 that helped distribute 15,000 bed nets directly helping 30,000 people!

Other ways to join the global fight against malaria

a brother and her yonger sister smile under a new bed net

Donate a bed net now

Help protect children in developing countries, where malaria infections threaten lives year round.

Buy a bed net

Rick Mercer stand in a crowd of waving students

Fundraise for bed nets

Stop malaria in its tracks! Learn how you can save lives and fundraise for bed nets

Start fundraising

Rick Mercer and students hold up a Plan International Canada Spread The Net banner

Not a school, but still passionate about the global fight to end malaria? We welcome individuals, families and community groups to take on the challenge and support the Spread the Net initiative in your own way! For more information about how you can champion this important cause, reach out to getinvolved@plancanada.ca.

Bed nets: The solution

Insecticide-treated bed nets are one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent the transmission of malaria.

One bed net can protect 2 people for up to 3 years.
Thousands of lives could be saved every year if all children under the age of 5 in Africa slept under a bed net.

Download our malaria educational resource for teachers - complete with lesson plan suggestions!

Download our "Ask a sponsor" letter template - and get your community involved in supporting your cause!

Fact

Malaria was eradicated in Canada over 50 years ago.

More facts about malaria

© 2019 Plan International Canada Inc. Because I am a Girl, and Spread the Net names and associated logos are trademarks of Plan International Canada Inc.

CRA Charity Registration Number: 11892 8993 RR0001
*The Standards Program Trustmark is a mark of Imagine Canada used under licence by Plan International Canada.