Beckham backs new anti-malaria campaign

England football star David Beckham and world-class British tennis player Andy Murray joined Prime Minister Gordon Brown to launch an anti-malaria campaign on Monday.

Beckham, Murray and British Olympic gold medal-winning heptathlete Denise Lewis posed for the cameras in front of a blue mosquito net draped over the front door of 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s official residence.

The trio have pledged their backing to Malaria No More UK, a charity launched in a bid to prevent millions of deaths from the disease worldwide.

England and AC Milan midfielder Beckham said: “It’s truly incredible to think we can stop this killer disease forever and it’s such a simple thing to do.

“For less than the cost of a football you can protect a family from dying. I urge the UK public to get behind the Malaria No More UK campaign to save a life and make malaria no more.”

Malaria, despite being treatable, threatens half the world’s population and pregnant women and children are particularly at risk.

Murray, fresh from reaching the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters tournament at the weekend, said: “This is the first global charity I’ve been involved with in this capacity and it was an easy decision.

“Malaria is completely preventable and stoppable but yet it still kills more children in Africa than any other single disease. We can radically change this, it is a huge opportunity and I’m urging the UK public to help save a life and get behind Malaria No More UK, a truly world-changing and life-saving initiative.”