A Langley Girl Guide unit decided this spring to raise some money for mosquito nets to help prevent malaria in Africa.

"Their original goal was $440," said Corrie Nichols, one of the leaders of the 2nd Langley Valley Guides.

A little less than two months later, they gave a cheque for more than $2,500 to Spread the Net, a mosquito net charity.

"Each year in Guiding we try to do some kind of service work," said Nichols.

This year, one of the leaders spotted the Spread the Net charity and thought it would be a perfect fit for 2nd Langley Valley unit.

They explained to the girls about the impact of malaria, and how it can often be prevented with a cheap, simple net to keep mosquitoes away at night.

The girls, aged nine to 11, took to the idea very quickly.

"By the end of spring break, a lot of them had already spearheaded their own fundraising drives," said Nichols.

The original intent was just to do one group fundraiser, but girls took off individually or in smaller groups to hold garage sales, put up lemonade stands, and hold bake sales.

"They were so enthusiastic, they really wanted to help," said Nichols.

The unit did do a group fundraiser, a movie night showing the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie Chipwrecked. They sold snacks and collected more funds for their cause.

They also got a $500 donation from a parent who said he would match that amount if they managed to raise that much money.

The cheque was sent off to Spread the Net and allowed for the purchase of 258 mosquito nets, and it got the Guides recognition at www.spreadthenet. org, too.

Next year, the Guides may take part in an environmental project.

The members of the 2nd Langley Valley Guides are Teja Samuelsen, Kathryn Fitzgerald, Melissa Nixon, Alex Webber, Emily Martinez, Emma Henry, Kaitlin Cumberland, Savannah Bishop, Benny Stevens, Julia Mijinke, Jensen Recksiedler, Makenna Trotman, Zoe Graham, Breanna Nichols, Abby Hine, Kalina Davis, Taylor Pearson, Angelina Lowe, Emily Shaw, Rebecca Hughes, Mya Galbraith, and Bianca MacPhee.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com