Matthew Wright
It's our second day of looking at what the celebrities from this year's selection of 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' contestants have to say about Malaria No More UK - the charity every contestant is backing this year, with 15p from every vote made going to the charity to help save lives in Africa.
Steve Davis chats about how this is one challenge that can be beaten: “I’m used to taking on big challenges and playing to win. That’s what I like about the malaria campaign, this is one killer disease that we really can beat. If I can make a total clearance on the snooker table, I’d say the next step would be to make a total clearance of malaria. I hope my jungle time will help to make that happen.”
Olympian Rebecca Adlington has seen the tragic impact of the disease first-hand: “I went out to Zambia after the Olympics to do a charity bike ride. Zambia is a such a beautiful country but the whole population is at risk of malaria. I took my anti-malarials because I knew how dangerous it can be if you don’t. Whenever we could, we slept under a mosquito net but not everyone has the option. I saw firsthand the devastating effects of malaria. I saw people getting really ill, it’s shocking. Millions of people suffer every single day so I am delighted to be able to help save lives by being in the jungle.”
Television host Matthew Wright once had a coworker affected by malaria: "I worked closely with a friend who had malaria, a former editor of The Wright Stuff. He often visited family in Zambia but didn’t think he needed to bother taking the malaria tablets. However, the last time he came back he got ill, then he got really ill and spent a few weeks in hospital. He was lucky enough to recover but it brought home to me the truly horrible impact of malaria. Mosquitoes don’t distinguish between people, if you are exposed you can suffer. It makes you wonder why anyone is dying from malaria given it is so easily prevented and treated. Protection from malaria is affordable to our planet so there is no need for people to die. If my time in the jungle can help raise awareness and save lives it’ll be worth all the scary spiders I meet!"
Viewers can donate to Malaria No More UK online at www.malarianomore.org.uk/donate.
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