The Three Lions have taken on their most challenging opponent yet as the England Footballers' Foundation (EFF) team up with Unicef.
The new four-year partnership with the world’s leading children’s organisation will help tackle malaria – a disease that still claims the life of a child every thirty seconds.
The partnership will use the players' global status to raise funds and awareness – both at home and around the world – about the danger of malaria and the benefits of sleeping under a mosquito net.
England players support Unicef
In Africa the disease is the biggest killer of children under five and globally it is the third single biggest killer of children.
The poorest and most vulnerable children are often the ones most at risk, but sleeping under a mosquito net can offer them life-saving protection.
To launch the partnership England captain Wayne Rooney, along with Joe Hart, Gary Cahill and Jack Wilshere feature in a series of striking images alongside children from William Shrewsbury Primary School, Burton upon Trent.
“It’s unbelievable that every ninety minutes – the time it takes to play a football match – 180 children will lose their lives to malaria," said Rooney.
"As captain of the England football team I am hugely proud that we are able to help Unicef in its goal of protecting every child in danger from this disease.”
Joe Hart added: "I have always been a huge fan of Unicef’s work so it’s really amazing that through our Foundation we can help make a difference to the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable children.
“For some children, being able to sleep under a life-saving mosquito net can mean the last line of defence from this deadly disease."
“I am proud that we are able to help Unicef.”
Wayne Rooney England captain
The first fundraising event will take place in London on Thursday 30 October when a number of England players, including Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere will manage football teams competing for the coveted EFF Charity Cup.
Last year the EFF also supported Unicef’s Typhoon Haiyan children’s emergency appeal following the catastrophic tropical storm in the Philippines.
Since its inception in 2007, the England players have donated their match fees and time to chosen charity partners and have now raised over £3.5 million.
Unicef UK Executive Director David Bull added his own words of support for the partnership: “The simplest way to keep children safe from malaria is to ensure that they sleep under a mosquito net, but many are still living without this basic life-saving need," he said.
"The faces of the England football team are some of the most recognisable in the country so it is great to have them on board to help us raise awareness to tackle malaria and protect all those children in danger.”
For more information about the EFF, visit www.englandfootballersfoundation.com and follow @EFFCharity.
