Pec Key Club is helping protect women and newborns around the globe

Pecatonica High School Key Club members, along with the help of some enthusiastic and costumed Pecatonica PRIDE tribe students, kicked off their Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF fundraising efforts with a 60-second dash at Thursday Oct. 20, exciting volleyball game against Freeport Aquin. In less than one minute, fans donated over $150. Thank you to the members of our community who emptied their pockets for this great cause.

On Halloween night, during trick-or-treating hours, be on the lookout for the classic orange UNICEF boxes. Key Club members will be out and about collecting money. 100% of these donations go to The Eliminate Project in order to help provide resources to support the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Maternal and neonatal tetanus is a terrible tragedy. In countries where people lack access to basic health services, a baby can be infected with tetanus during birth. Tetanus can kill newborns within days, and mothers may die, as well. The short lifetime of an infant with neonatal tetanus is marked by excruciating symptoms such as spasms, difficulty breathing and convulsions that can be triggered by the slightest sound or contact. But this disease is easily preventable.

The Eliminate Project supports the elimination of this swift, painful and highly preventable disease. More than 100 million women of childbearing age need to be vaccinated to protect them and their future newborns. An average of $1.80 will provide three doses of the tetanus toxoid vaccine, syringes, safe transport and storage, education on safe birthing practices, training of health workers and more. This global campaign will protect the lives of millions of mothers and their future newborns.

For more information about Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF visit www.trickortreatforunicef.org and http://www.keyclub.org/service/fund/osp/unicef.aspx.

If you would like to make sure a Key Club member visits your house or business on or before Halloween, please e-mail Advisor Michelle Johnson at [email protected]. Checks can be made payable to Kiwanis International Foundation.

Libby Miller with her Dash for Cash bucket.