Kiwanians Hosts BBQ Fundraiser Tonight In Valrico

The drive to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus will get a boost tomorrow night, Aug. 10, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Valrico, when the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon hosts its First Annual BBQ Dinner to support The Eliminate Project.

The public is invited to attend the fundraiser, at 1810 Front St., which is set to run from 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person; $2 of ever ticket will be donated to the project.

"The loss of a child, especially to a slow, painful death, as is tetanus, just should not be," said Gena Schaffer, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon. "Sixty cents saves a baby's life, by [providing its] mother with the maternal tetanu vaccine, otherwise known as MNT. Please help us raise funds by joining us for a Saturday night meal."

The Eliminate Project is a joint venture of Kiwanis International and UNICEF.

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About The Eliminate Project, Kiwanis International And UNICEF 

• The Eliminate Project, Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.

• This deadly disease steals the lives of nearly 60,000 innocent babies and a significant number of women each year. The effects of the disease are excruciating —  tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and extreme sensitivity to light and touch. 

• To eliminate MNT from the earth, more than 100 million mothers and their future babies must be immunized. This requires vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, thousands and skilled staff and more.

• Tetanus kills one baby every nine minutes.

• It only costs 60 cents per vaccination.