The "Malaria Bites" 5K Run/Walk, hosted recently by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Woodstock, raised $10,800 for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ECLA) Malaria Campaign. "A child dies from malaria every minute," said Kristin Brenneman, outreach coordinator for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. "In a few short hours, Good Shepherd, and the entire community, was able to raise more than $10,000 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign," she explained, adding the campaign's goal is to raise $15 million by the year 2015.

While Good Shepherd Lutheran Church raised $5,400 on or before race day, the total donated to the Malaria Campaign grew to $10,800, thanks to a matching program available through the ELCA. The money will help provide insecticide treatments, test kits, education and treatment for those in danger of contracting the deadly disease. Deaths from malaria have dropped by 25 percent since the ELCA joined the World Health Organization in its effort to eradicate malaria.

The fastest runners/walkers in age divisions received a medal. The overall male runner trophy was awarded to Mike Stafford of Marietta, with a time of 17:02:00, while the overall female runner trophy went to Caitlyn Farrell of Canton, with a time of 21:42:00. "The real winners are the women and young children who can now be protected, especially those in Naimibia, where the ELCA hopes to start a program to prevent and treat malaria," Brenneman said.