Manatee High Key Club raises $5,000 for tetanus shots

BRADENTON -- The Manatee High School Key Club raised more than $5,00 to provide vaccinations in third-world countries in an effort to help eliminate tetanus.

The fundraiser ran through the month of October and the club collected $5,125.45 for the Eliminate Project, a Kiwanis International Foundation project done in collaboration with UNICEF.

A set of three tetanus shots cost about $1.80. The Key Club donation will provide more than 2,000 tetanus shots.

This deadly disease kills nearly 49,000 babies and a significant number of women each year. The effects of the disease are excruciating -- tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and extreme sensitivity to light and touch.

Earlier this year, the Manatee High Key Club also raised enough money to bring an "Equal Play Playground" to the Riverwalk. The playground equipment is able to support children with all types of disabilities. The playground equipment cost more than $30,000.

Senior student and Key Club President Kris Gerry said a number of the Key Club members had attended the Kiwanis International conference and learning about the project really hit home for the students.

"We have so much that we take for granted," he said.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Manatee High Key Club raises $5,000 for tetanus shots ."