Merced based non-profit Grace Outreach Coalition is holding a dinner and auction to raise funds for a medical mission to Nigeria.

In July 2011, GOC spearheaded a successful campaign against schistosomiasis using the medication Praziquantel, in Borgu province of Niger state Nigeria. Their medical mission impacted over 2,000 infected victims including women, men and children.

While the administration of Praziquantel serves as a temporary cure, the need to prevent a re-infection of the treated victims becomes necessary. Their approach is three-pronged: water sanitation, public education and snail control (the primary vector). Subsequently, last January through the help of supporters, GOC donated a total of 20 units of life straw water filters, valued at $1,000, to Shagunu and Maiwindi villages where there was a scarcity of potable water during the mission’s first visit last July. GOC plans to continue providing water filters for more villages in June. The mission’s goal is to provide 300 additional water filters valued at $15,000. Each water filter valued at $50 will provide 18,000 Liters of clean water before the cartridge needs replacement.
The dinner, raffle and live auction fundraising event will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Family Life Center, 650 East Olive Ave. in Merced. Tickets are $15 or $120 for a table of eight.

To purchase tickets, call (607) 761-2722, (209) 201-3080 or e-mail pfregene@goc2015.org. To view pictures of the July 2011 mission and see the items that will be on auction at Friday’s event, visit www.goc2015.org.