Girls seeking World Without Worms need your votes

Locally, Fiona and Abby Emdin have become known as, the less than flattering, “Worm Girls.”
“We don’t mind,” the West Lake residents report. “Although the issue of parasitic worms may possibly be the least glamorous around, we have come to realize that, among teenagers, it is also one of the most poorly supported and understood.”
After participating in Nicholson high school’s humanitarian trip to Jamaica last year, they, with fellow student Laura Hallsworth, returned determined to try to find a way to improve the lives of students in developing countries.
“With some research to determine where our efforts could be directed, we learned that over two billion people are infected by parasitic worm infections. Three hundred million of these are stricken with severe illness; half are school-aged children. We learned that chronic infections decrease the school attendance, literacy and life-time earnings of infected students. We were amazed to discover that this serious problem had a very inexpensive treatment – less than 50 cents for medication per child.”
Their initiative ‘World Without Worms’ was born.
“For the last year, we have worked to raise money for sustainable, school-based deworming programs, by challenging people in our community to match the money spent on deworming their pets, and through a host of other fundraisers. We spread the word through our website, www.worldwithoutworms.com, and through the media. We are working to expand our fundraising efforts to other schools, colleges and universities.”
Abby Emdin, is currently involved in a competition for “Canada’s Next Top Young Philanthropist” where the winner is awarded $10,000 for their cause.
“We thought the contest would be a great way to raise the profile of this issue and to connect with any other worm warriors out there.”
If you are interested in their cause or in supporting their efforts, visit the World Without Worms website and lend your support at the contest site by voting daily http://youthgive.ca/entry/4239575-World-Without-Worms?offset=35&sort=upload%20DESC&channel=10811 until July 8th. Pass it on.