Caterham and Warlingham pupils and students are being urged to help the children of the world by raising funds to eradicate the crippling killer disease Polio.

Members of the Rotary Clubs of Caterham and Caterham Harestone are joining forces with over 55,000 other Rotarians across Great Britain and Ireland in a co-ordinated effort to finally win the battle with this most debilitating and often terminal disease. The Caterham Rotarians are aiming to help reach the £1m target by encouraging the schools to support the world-wide initiative to stamp out Polio for good.

Hundreds of Rotary Clubs across Great Britain and Ireland are linking up with schools, colleges, businesses, organisations and individuals to hold a range of fundraising events to raise the £1 million target by Tuesday, 23rd February 2010 ('Thanks for Life' day and Rotary's 105th birthday). Jim Burton and Ian Harris, Presidents of The Rotary Clubs of Caterham and Caterham Harestone said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about issues facing children in other parts of the world and to help those that are less fortunate than themselves.

"Rotary has been involved in this fight for 25 years and the world is so close to being free from Polio for good thanks to the joint hard work of organisations and governments. How fantastic for a child to join the fight and be able to say, 'I helped to wipe out a disease for only the second time in history, after Smallpox. I stopped children from dying - I help change the world'." Interested schools should contact Ronnie Lyles on 01883 347238 or visit www.ribi.org/thanks-for-life