Radio marathon to help prevent children dying from pneumonia

The money raised in this year's radio marathon Serious Request on NPO 3FM will go towards the global fight against pneumonia in young children. "It is a silent disaster that takes a child's life every 35 seconds", the Red Cross said on the public radio station on Tuesday, NU.nl reports. Every December three Radio 3FM DJ's lock themselves into a glass house for three days to raise money for charity. During this time they don't eat and broadcast live 24 hours a day. This year the glass house will be in Breda. According to the Red Cross, childhood pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five. "Every year it kills more than 900 thousand young children world wide, who could be saved with proper treatment and information." The disease is especially a problem in Haiti, Sudan and Ethiopia. The Red Cross wants to sue the money raised for supporting vaccination campaigns, improving health care, providing safe drinking water and providing sanitation. The organization also wants to teach parents and health care workers how to prevent pneumonia, how to recognize it early and how to treat it.. Last year the Serious Request glass house was situated in Heerlen. The radio marathon raised over 7.5 million euros to help children in war zones.