Television personality Rick Mercer will pay a visit to the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) on Monday to help students celebrate their first place finish in the Spread the Net fundraising campaign.
UNBC raised $18,710 to buy treated sleeping nets to prevent malaria during a challenge issued to universities and colleges across the country and Mercer promised to visit the top school. Espanola High School outside Sudbury, Ont. was the top high school in the campaign, a partnership with UNICEF, raising $13,308.
Mercer will appear at a rally in the Wintergarden at 12:30 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m., he'll be in the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre to play some hoops with the UNBC Timberwolves.
The mosquito that transmits the malaria parasite infects its victims most often overnight, which makes the use of bed nets essential. The victims of this disease are frequently children, especially those under the age of five.
