Six Rotary clubs in Sutton, supported by computer magnate Bill Gates, are joining hands, in a multi-billion Pound worldwide drive to completely eradicate polio.

The Rotary Clubs of Carshalton, Carshalton Beeches, Cheam, Sutton, Nonsuch and Wallington are joining the Thanks for Life campaign, to complete the vaccination of every child in the world against polio.

A fundraising will be carried out in the area for one week.

Rotary has, till date, contributed nearly £540m and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2 billion children, covering an impressive 122 countries. The club has also played a major role in getting donor governments to contribute over £2.5 billion to the effort make India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, “polio-free”.

Peter Morley, from Sutton Rotary Club, says, “The Rotary club has been working to eradicate polio worldwide for 25 years now, and there are four countries where polio is endemic and we still need to promote polio vaccination”.

They are now aiming at raising another £130 million, so they can receive a £225m grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.