As a Rotarian, I was very pleased to receive some excellent news last week. Rotary Foundation, Rotary's own international charitable trust, has been selected to receive a prestigious award, the 2002 Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health, a recognition that carries with it a US$1 million award.

This is a great honour, both for Rotary Foundation and for all Rotarians who participate in and support its global humanitarian and educational programmes. The award was given in recognition of Rotary's leadership and impact in the field of public health, most notably the organisation's priority of eradication of polio by 2005.

Rotary has been a major player in a campaign to eradicate polio. It has not only been a question of financial support by Rotary to the polio eradication project but also the mobilisation of more than a million Rotary members to do the hands-on work in areas of health, sustainable development and ongoing community projects worldwide.

-Sandra Salvidge, Brighton and Hove Rotary Breakfast Club