Bite on for malaria

By Shaun Inguanzo
A 79-YEAR-OLD Dandenong man’s crusade against malaria has already inspired the community to pitch in more than $4000 to help buy anti-mosquito nets for nations ravaged by the deadly disease.
Tony Linossi is preparing to swim a lap at Dandenong’s Oasis Swim Centre on 5 April next year as part of the global World Swim Against Malaria fund raising effort.
Mr Linossi, a member of the Rotary Club of Dandenong, appealed to the community in January to sponsor him for the swim, with the goal of raising $5000 by next April.
But the response has so far been overwhelming, with more than $4000 raised in just two months.
Included in the swag of sponsorships is one totalling $3000 from Girotto Precast, close friends of Mr Linossi’s.
Mr Linossi said he was now hoping to raise $10,000 for the malaria cause.
The program’s aim is to raise money to buy anti-mosquito nets that will protect people at risk of contracting the disease – spread through mosquito bites – by ensuring the mosquitoes can not make contact with them.
Mr Linossi said with 3000 children dying around the world each day from malaria, it was important that people thought about the present, not just rely on future medical research.
“It’s an awful lot of kids dying between the age of basically unborn children to 15 years,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Linossi said about 15 people had committed to joining him in the pool next year at the Dandenong Oasis.
He praised Oasis management for their support of the cause by allowing him to train three times a week free of charge and promising to keep lanes free for next year’s event.