IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe - November/December 2015 - 40

STOP RUN

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARK SIMMONDS

Mark Simmonds, right, volunteers his free time
helping people in his community with computer
issues and educating people about malaria.

Solving Global Issues Locally
IBMer volunteers time to educate people about malaria
and technology
Alessandria
Rhines is a former
intern with IBM
Systems Magazine.

t only takes two hours a week
for Mark Simmonds to create
effective change globally,
ignite conversation and promote
education. Even more impressive,
he achieves it all within the comfort of his home state of Colorado.
One day "I saw a poignant presentation about how malaria was
killing children in Sub-Saharan
Africa every 30 seconds. It grabbed
me," he says. The eye-opening presentation was created by Imagine
No Malaria, a campaign supported
by the United Methodist Church
and dedicated to eradicating the
deadly blood disease. It did more
than just alert Simmonds to the
facts of the disease. "The story
really touched my heart," he says.
The presentation marked the
beginning of spare weekends and

evenings dedicated to Simmonds'
volunteering crusade as an ambassador for the organization. Already
a prolific presenter and traveler as
senior product marketing manager
and architect with IBM, Simmonds
began traveling to organizations
around Colorado for the cause.
He tells others how malaria is
treatable, curable and, most
importantly, preventable in hopes
that they will spread the message,
volunteer and donate money to
the campaign.
Regions such as Sub-Saharan
Africa lack the latest medical
treatments made possible by
technological advancements.
Proper education on the disease
is important for everyone-especially those in regions where
misinformation can spread the

myth that those with the disease
are inhabited by an "evil spirit"
instead of suffering from illness,
Simmonds explains. "With the
technology we have today there's
no need for anybody to die."
Examples of technological
inequalities are not limited to
developing countries. On a less
severe scale, Simmonds recognized
a technology gap between the
generations in his own community
and volunteers his computer skills
on a best-can-do basis in his free
time. He offers free computer services, problem determination and
repair, a service given specifically
to any member of the community
who may not be tech-savvy, he
notes. When Simmonds and his
spouse are offered compensation
for their work, they respectfully
decline. "We are doing this as part
of our giveback to the community,"
he responds. The only request he
asks in return is for the community
members to lend a helping hand
when others are in need.
Even though Simmonds' work
with Imagine No Malaria and his
community may elicit appreciation,
the service to the human race is
what he cherishes most. The act
of volunteering is not exclusive of
those without the means of travel
or an infinite amount of free time.
Whether it's speaking on a community's behalf or giving two hours
to the people in need, the ability to
"build such strong bridges" is what
matters most to Simmonds.
He says he "kind of fell into"
volunteering, yet Simmonds loves
it all the same: "To me, giving is
the most satisfying, rewarding
thing that you can do. It just puts
your whole life in perspective."

WANT TO BE FEATURED IN STOP RUN? Send an email to Valerie Dennis at vdennis@msptechmedia.com
40 // NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 ibmsystemsmag.com

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IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe - November/December 2015

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