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Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne visited Everton's Finch Farm training ground today.

The pair lent their support to a campaign encouraging people across the UK to sign-up for this year's Sport Relief.



Gates, 60, one of the world's wealthiest men, and Osborne met Roberto Martinez, Phil Jagielka, Tim Howard and Arouna Koné as they joined an exclusive training session with Everton Academy players to raise awareness of global efforts to tackle malaria.



Of the money raised by the public through Sport Relief, which takes place between 18–20 March, 50% is used to make a difference in the UK and 50% goes towards transforming lives across the world's poorest communities.

The fight against malaria, a disease that claims almost half a million lives each year, is an important part of this international work.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a long-term partner of Comic Relief, the charity behind Sport Relief, pledging millions of pounds in the fight against malaria – a disease which claims a child's life every minute.

The Foundation is matching funds raised this year by Sport Relief for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS TB and Malaria, a partner that provides half of all international funding for malaria worldwide.

The visit to Finch Farm was part of a joint trip to Liverpool, where Gates and the senior Tory saw first-hand how the city is helping lead the fight against global diseases like malaria.



At an earlier event at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Gates and Osborne announced a landmark £3bn funding commitment over the next five years as part of the global fight against malaria.

The announcement follows on from the £1 billion Ross Fund announced last year, a partnership between the Gates Foundation and the UK government to help fight infectious diseases like malaria.



Gates said: "Malaria is one of the most devastating diseases in the world. But with the leadership and commitment of the people in Britain, I am optimistic that we can win this fight.

I want to encourage everyone to sign-up to Sport Relief to help continue this Great British tradition".

Osborne added: "I'm really proud of the amazing support the British people continue to show Sport Relief and the government is playing its part too, matching up to £10m of the money it raises for international projects.

"On top of that, Bill and I are announcing today £3bn of funding aimed at eradicating malaria all together, helping support UK institutions like the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. It was brilliant to bring Bill Gates to the heart of the Northern Powerhouse to see the pioneering work done here."