The Rotary Clubs of Caterham and Caterham Harestone are taking part in an ambitious national Rotary initiative to help raise £1 million towards polio eradication by the end of February 2010.

The initiative is part of Rotary's national 'Thanks for Life - End Polio Now' campaign, which will involve hundreds of Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland.

Locally, Rotary is linking up with schools, businesses, organisations and individuals to help raise the £1 million UK target by 'Thanks For Life - Rotary Day' on Tuesday, 23rd February 2010 (Rotary's 105th birthday). If any readers would like to make a donation to this worthy cause please see websites:
www.caterhamrotary.org.uk or
www.caterhamharestone-rotary.co.uk

Each £1 contributed will be match funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation by a further £1.78.

Polio is a crippling, and sometimes fatal, disease and still a very harrowing reality for children in parts of Africa and Asia.

Every £1 raised in this campaign will purchase five doses of the special anti-polio vaccine. These children, mainly under age five, will be protected against polio forever.

Polio eradication has been Rotary's top priority since 1985, where it has led the private sector in the global effort to rid the world of this crippling disease with more than $1.2 billion contributed to the effort.

Thanks to Rotary's help, two billion children have been protected from the disease, and the number of endemic countries has fallen from 125 to just four: Afghanistan, northern India, Nigeria and Pakistan.

It is estimated that five million children have been spared from disability and 250,000 deaths have been averted.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has now awarded US$255 million to Rotary International in the global effort to eradicate polio, bringing the total committed by Rotary and the Gates Foundation to $555 million.

Bill Gates has praised Rotary for providing the volunteers and donors who have helped bring about a 99 percent decline in the number of polio cases. "The world would not be where it is without Rotary, and it won't get where it needs to go without Rotary," he said.

In addition to providing financial and volunteer support, Rotary works to urge support from other public and private sector partners. This includes the campaign to End Polio Now, inspired by the extraordinary challenge grants received from the Gates Foundation.

Rotary International is a worldwide voluntary organisation of 1.2 million individuals. In Great Britain and Ireland there are over 55,000 men and women of all ages from all walks of life in Rotary clubs, all of whom share a passion and commitment to helping and improving communities both locally and across the world. Each member enjoys giving something back to those in need, as well as enjoying social activities, learning new skills and having a huge amount of fun. If you would like to know more about becoming a Rotarian in Caterham please contact Peter Lyons on 01883 345389 or call and see us at Station Avenue, Caterham next door to Catax Taxis between Saturday 20th and Saturday 27th February between 12.00 midday and 4.00pm.