Hi my name is Frankie Mazzei and I am currently training for the 2014 Asics Los Angeles Marathon in hopes of raising funds for my dear friend Petra Teslerova’s organization Anti-Jigger Act. Anti-Jigger Act is a non-profit, non-political organization striving to eliminate the spread of jiggers among the poorest communities of Rwanda and overall improve lives of those affected. This being my very first marathon, I have been training religiously for the last couple months, rain, shine or snow, in hopes of showing the world that setting personal goals does not only lead to personal gain. Together, with Petra Teslerova and Toby Childs, I am hoping to find enough fans to support me in my single effort to raise money for the Anti-Jigger Act. We are reaching out to everyone we can to help raise funds for the Anti-Jigger Act as I run 26.2 miles (42.2 km) for those who struggle with every step.

What is a Jigger and what is Jigger’s Disease?

The jigger (commonly referred to as the Chigoe flea) is a parasitic flea that is found in most tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. The jigger is the smallest known flea measuring only one millimeter in length and is endemic to Central and South America but is commonly found throughout Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence rate of Jigger’s disease is among the greatest in East Africa. Specifically, Rwanda plays host to some of the highest infection rates of the disease in the world. Many Rwandans who become infected with jigger’s disease do not seek treatment due to lack of money and medical facilities. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to seriously infected wounds, loss of toenails, loss of toes and fingers, amputations, and even death.

The Anti-Jigger Act

As previously mentioned my dear friend Petra Teslerova founded the Anti-Jigger Act in 2013. The idea of starting the Anti-Jigger Act arose following her first visit to Rwanda in the summer 2012. While she was volunteering for the Ubushobozi project, a women’s empowerment group, she was introduced to a family suffering from a serious case of jigger infestation. She played around with a few ideas and came up with a basic solution for treatment consisting of simple, locally available ingredients. The family she had met agreed to participate in what started out as a small experiment. For over three weeks, the family underwent daily treatment, never missing an appointment. Over time, their condition gradually improved and the final results were outstanding. By the time Petra was ready to leave Rwanda, the members of the family she had treated were all jigger-free. Petra’s impact on the family went far beyond ridding them of the infectious parasite. The treatment also enabled the children to go back to school and engage in various social activities within their village without being ridiculed and laughed at. Petra now continues to return to Rwanda to help treat as many people suffering from Jigger’s Disease as she can. During her one-month stay in Rwanda last summer, she managed to treat more than seventy patients, and provide every single one of them with a new pair of shoes.

For more information on Petra's organization please visit her website @ http://jiggeract.wordpress.com/