– Instead of raising money strictly for its own activities, students in Henderson State University’s Biology Club decided to be more philanthropic and support a campaign to end seven neglected tropical diseases. The club chose to collect funds for the END7 campaign led by the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, an initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute.

Club members raised $500 by selling dogwood tree seedlings. The funds will be donated to END7.

“I think it is highly commendable that our students took time out of their busy schedules to have a fundraiser to help truly needy people,” said Dr. James Engman, chair of Henderson’s biology department. “Planting trees is good for us here in Arkansas. Using the profits from that to help treat devastating tropical diseases makes this a ‘win-win’ situation.”

According to END7, one in six people worldwide, including more than half a billion children, have parasitic and bacterial diseases living and breeding in their bodies. It costs 50 cents for a packet of pills to treat and protect one child for a year.

The seven targeted diseases include: elephantiasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness); Schistosomiasis (snail fever); trachoma; ancylostomiasis (hookworm); trichuriasis (whip worm); and ascariasis (round worm). The ultimate goal of END7 is to end all seven diseases by 2020.