San Antonio Silver Stars basketball player Ruth Riley talked with students at Bill Brown Elementary School recently about efforts to control malaria through donations to buy mosquito-repellent nets for children of African nations. Courtesy photo

San Antonio Silver Stars standout basketball player Ruth Riley is using her time this WNBA offseason to relay an important message to young people.

Riley was at Bill Brown Elementary School in November to speak about the “Nothing But Nets” drive that is collecting donations to buy mosquito-repellent nets for children of African nations.

A child in Africa dies every 30 seconds from malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. Each year 350-500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide, and more than one million people die, most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

The “Nothing But Nets” initiative allows people to purchase mosquito nets for $10 for families in Africa to prevent malaria.

Riley has traveled the world learning and talking about the disease.

“This is such an important cause,” she said. “And it is something that’s so easy to prevent once we raise the awareness factor.”

Students at Bill Brown Elementary have joined forces with Riley, raising more than $2,000 for “Nothing But Nets.”

“I think it’s wonderful that students are able to get behind something so worthwhile at such a young age,” BBES principal Ross McGlothlin said. “It really opens their eyes to things that are going on around the world.”

Bill Brown fourth-grader Alli Robinson was impressed with the way Riley is using her celebrity status to support an important cause.

“The presentation she gives is wonderful,” Robinson said. “You can tell it’s something she’s passionate about. After hearing her, it makes you want to help out as much as you can.”

For more information about, “Nothing But Nets” visit www.nothingbutnets.net.