Everton Football Club is asking the people of Melbourne to 'dig deep' during their visit next month.
Everton has teamed-up with an Australian-based charity organisation, Metamorphic International, to help raise funds for an initiative that builds wells in local communities in Cambodia, Laos and Kenya.
"Ever year, millions of people are poisoned by their water source," said Metamorphic's founder, Lindsay Clarke.
"They contract diseases such as hepatitis A, diarrhoea, typhoid fever and others - all of which could be prevented if they had clean water."
Mr Clarke said that in South East Asia and the Pacific alone, almost 190 million people are affected by poor sanitation and access to clean water, and approximately 75,000 children in the region died from diarrhoea last year.
Mr Clarke said that Metamorphic International runs a number of programs that deliver practical and sustainable support to impoverished communities.
"We're particularly pleased with the progress we're making with the Water4Water initiative," he said.
"Water4Water helps transform lives by giving access to clean water to help keep the community healthy in the long term."
Mr Clarke said that funds raised so far have helped people to learn to build wells in Cambodia, fund the piping of fresh water in Laos and acquired a drilling rig to provide wells in Kenya.
"These practical forms of assistance help in reducing the incidence of disease and help improve lifestyles as there is water for cooking, washing, ablutions and showering - the type of everyday 'luxury' we take for granted."
Mr Clarke said he was "absolutely delighted" with the support from Everton Football Club whose players - including Socceroos star, Tim Cahill, and coaching staff - will all be present at a fundraising dinner to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Melbourne, on 13 July.*
He said that major auction prizes include a 'money can't buy' experience to visit some of the communities and Water4Water projects in Cambodia, a VIP Everton match day experience during the English Premier League season and dinner with Formula 1 racing driver Mark Webber.
"This fundraising dinner will help build more wells throughout the three countries in a practical and sustainable manner," Mr Clarke said.
Information about the Everton Football Club Fundraising Dinner can be obtained by visiting www.metamorphic-community.org or www.evertondownunder.com
Everton Football Club will play three matches on their Down Under 2010 tour: against Sydney FC on 10 July, Melbourne Heart on 14 July and Brisbane Roar on 17 July. Full details are at www.evertondownunder.com
