David Beckham, Andy Murray and Denise Lewis were among sporting heroes visiting Downing Street today to back a new anti-malaria campaign.

The trio have pledged their backing to Malaria No More UK, the British extension of a US charity that aims to prevent millions of deaths worldwide.

Despite preventable and treatable disease, malaria threatens half the world’s population and those most vulnerable are pregnant women and children.

In Africa, malaria kills one child every 30 seconds, the charity said.

Beckham, the long-serving England midfielder, said: “It’s truly incredible to think we can stop this killer disease forever and it’s such a simple thing to do. For less than the cost of a football you can protect a family from dying.

“I urge the UK public to get behind the Malaria No More UK campaign to save a life and make malaria no more.”

Murray, Britain’s No 1 tennis player, added: “This is the first global charity I’ve been involved with in this capacity and it was an easy decision.

“Malaria is completely preventable and stoppable but yet it still kills more children in Africa than any other single disease. We can radically change this, it is a huge opportunity and I’m urging the UK public to help save a life and get behind Malaria No More UK, a truly world-changing and life-saving initiative.”

At last month’s G20 conference, Gordon Brown announced an additional £2 million to fund work to prevent the spread of malaria and other diseases in Africa, alongside the £1.6 million that has already been raised through sponsorship of the climb of Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief by a team of celebrities.

Sarah Kline, the charity’s executive director, said that despite Britain being home to many key international aid agencies and medical scientists who were leading the fight against malaria, Malaria No More would be the first charity dedicated to raising public awareness of the disease.

“When you think that malaria kills one child every 30 seconds and three times as many under-5s as HIV/Aids, there is a desperate need in increase our understanding and awareness of this disease,” she said.

Lewis, the Olympic gold medalist, added: “As a mother of three, finding out that pregnant women are four times more likely to contract malaria than other adults, well that really hits home. Here in the UK, malaria is not something an expecting mother needs to worry about.

“It shouldn’t be in Africa either, especially since malaria is a preventable disease. It’s so easy for us to make a massive difference. Buying a £5 bed net will protect a mother and her child for up to five years. The time has come for us to work together to make malaria no more.”

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