Knots for Malaria No More

Yesterday on Twitter @guskoerner, I announced that I would be selling all my paracord wares with 70% going to Malaria No More, but I didn't have room or time to explain the details.

A CHILD DIES EVERY MINUTE FROM MALARIA - Malaria claims the lives of 483,000 children per year—90% of those in Africa. That’s 1,300 kids who lose their lives to a mosquito bite every day.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a corporation, Bill Gates type or big NGO.  I'm just a normal guy, trying to make a difference.  Please be a bit patient with the outlay of this, as it will improve daily.

Point 1, Malaria - Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by parasitic protozoans. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, fatigue, vomiting and headaches. In severe cases it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma or death.These symptoms usually begin ten to fifteen days after being bitten. In those who have not been appropriately treated disease may recur months later. In those who have recently survived an infection, re-infection typically causes milder symptoms. This partial resistance disappears over months to years if there is no ongoing exposure to malaria.  See the whole Wiki article on Malaria.

Point 2, I'm a knot tyer, which is an art I am perfecting.  I use the finest US made products, do each piece of jewelry by hand and my best to satisfy my customers.

Point 3, I am donating all my labor and just charging for the basic materials and shipping, with the balance going to Malaria No More.  That's it.

Complications that may concern you.

• My prices may change slightly. - Response,  I've never done this before, and I have to set a price point that's not too low or too high, and deal with shipping near and far.
• Lag time.  I am only one guy right now making these items, expect 2 to 4 weeks for delivery.
• Web presence - I'm not a web master, just a guy who operates a blog.  I'll do my best.
• Sales.  All sales will be through PayPal, Square, Cash or Money Order.  1 bad check could wipe out needed money for Malaria from bank fees.
• My guarantee.  You'll be satisfied with the product.  It will be at a competitive price. The money will go where I say it will.  At the end of the project I'll publish a summary of expenses and donations.
• My cut.  I have to pay for things that cost me, so if you do the math and take the total price of an item like a key ring for example, $4 plus $2 shipping, know the item cost me about a $1 to build.  That actually works out to 75%.  Discounts will be given in shipping for multiple items to the same location.

That's all I can say for today.  Keep checking this site for more pictures and information, and God bless you for caring enough to check it out.

Questions?  Leave a comment below.

-gus

What good will come of all this?

Today has been a very depressing day for me. I won't say how much, but I was really down this afternoon. I guess force of habit causes me to try to find a silver lining to this cloud of what could be considered gloom.  So I ask myself, what good might come from all of this? Does God have plans for a higher good to come of this?

• I now have a knowledge of the disease I didn't have before.
• Perhaps DOC might actually train their staff and/or write policy dealing with airborne pathogens, treating them with the same precautions as liquid contaminants.
• Perhaps I'll have an opportunity to be a trainer for DOC in this area.
• Perhaps I'll get some sort of pay raise or financial compensation because of it all, as this will affect the rest of my life and career.
• Perhaps this could open up a new ministry for me.
• Perhaps somewhere in the world someone could use this new insight I've gained, and I can be of some good elsewhere.

Am I being overly dramatic?