15,000 Madurodam visitors netted for World Malaria Day
On Easter Monday, World Malaria Day, we draped the Euromast in Madurodam in a mosquito net. The Easter weekend and the fantastic weather brought some 15,000 visitors to Madurodam who all walked past the Euromast and saw Malaria No More! Netherlands' message.
Getting the mosquito net over the Euromast was actually quite a feat. First, mosquito nets are not 4 meters long, which is the height of the Euromast in Madurodam from the restaurant at the top to the entrance at the bottom. We had to sew two mosquito nets together to make one that fit. Second, we needed a long ladder to attach the mosquito net to the restaurant at the top of the Euromast. Madurodam’s staff were very helpful. We also put up a sign with 
a short text explaining why the Euromast was protected by a mosquito net and appealing for donations.
Easter Monday, World Malaria Day
On this very busy holiday, Malaria No More! Netherlands was assisted by long-time volunteers Augustina Austin, Roxanne van den Brul and Aleid Hillebrand. They stood on the Erasmus Bridge next to the Euromast handing out flyers and cards, and talking to Dutch and foreign tourists. They explained that the Euromast in Madurodam was draped in a mosquito net for World Malaria Day as a dry run for the draping of the real Euromast, which will take place on 7 June, and is slightly more complex than sewing together two mosquito nets and climbing up a ladder.
Thank you for your help
Madurodam’s visitors not only learned more about malaria, they also made spontaneous donations. The Ohana family from Israel and Ms Krongkaew Santaputra from Thailand both made cash donations because they didn't have a Dutch SIM card, which you need to make a text donation. Other visitors donated € 3 by texting 3malaria to 5757.
We would like to thank all of the visitors, donors, volunteers and Madurodam staff for their help on World Malaria Day 2011 and their contribution towards fighting malaria.
Your help is more than welcome
You can still donate: Text 3malaria to 5757 and donate € 3, or donate any amount by clicking on the donate button or by bank transfer to account number 56.10.25.312 in the name of Malaria No More!
