BADMINTONscotland are delighted to announce that, thanks to the money raised in the build-up and duration of the 10^th Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championships in Glasgow earlier this month, the total raised for UNICEF, the leading childrenís organisation, is currently standing at approximately £5,000.

One child in Africa dies every 30 seconds from malaria, and the hope is that BADMINTONscotlandís efforts can help turn badminton nets into mosquito nets, metaphorically speaking of course, and help save a quarter of a million lives each year in Africa.

During the championship, buckets were stationed around the venue at Scotstoun International Sports Arena, and the Scottish national junior squadís participation in a 60-second bucket challenge also helped raise funds.

The juniors, ranging from U13 to U19, teamed-up to hit as many shuttles into empty buckets at the other end of the court within a minute, and their efforts helped raise £600.

P W Connell from Glenrothes guessed closest to the total of 97 shuttles the squad managed to bucket, and he is the winner of a brand-new Yonex racquet and bag to store all his badminton equipment in.

Top international stars such as Denmark ís Kenneth Jonassen and Kamilla Ritter Juhl, Germany ís Xu Huaiwen, and Badminton Playerís Federation president Bobby Milroy were among the players who also gave their support to the drive.

However, BADMINTONscotlandís commitment to UNICEF was not just restricted to tournament-week, with a sponsored walk back in May the focal point for fundraising in the build-up to the championships.

A large number of volunteers and professional players helped the organisationís staff in their quest to raise funds for the charity, after a successful Sunday saunter on May 20^th.

BADMINTONscotland chief executive Anne Smillie said: ìThe Badminton World Federation was thrilled with the efforts of BADMINTONscotland in ensuring that we did what we could to raise money for UNICEF.

ìThe fund-raising activities in and around the tournament venue were very successful in gathering money for what is an extremely good cause, and we hope UNICEF can put what we have raised to good use.î

UNICEF is the largest global supplier of mosquito nets, having purchased 17 million nets in 2005.  With over one million deaths caused by malaria every year ñ 80 per cent of those in sub-Saharan Africa ñ the impact of such initiatives cannot be overstated.

UNICEF works in over 150 countries and territories world-wide, and aims to help children survive and prosper through infancy and adolescence. The distribution of insecticide-treated nets is one way UNICEF has helped to control the devastating impact malaria has on everyday lives across the globe.

BADMINTONscotland would like to thank all those who have given to the UNICEF fund. It is not too late for those who have not yet donated but wish to do so.

Cheques are to be made payable to UNICEF and should be sent to BADMINTONscotland, Cockburn Centre,

BY Stuart Miller