Hamilton Rotarians are helping give the gift of life to a ten-year-old Russian girl who suffers from a hole in the heart.

Hamilton Rotary Club has raised $1500 towards the $5000 needed to fly Maria Levchenko to New York from the town of Smolesk in Western Russia for the operation.

Maria and her mother Lubov travel to New York on January 17 for the operation, which will be the 50th in the "Gift of Life" programme set up by Rotary's New York District, which includes the Bermuda clubs.

Hamilton Rotary Club President Harry Kast said: "It is the type of thing Rotary does but the public doesn't hear about, but its what we are about.

"We've reached out to a little girl in Russia, but it could have been from Africa, or Central America or Romania.

"There is a chance that the mother and daughter may come to Bermuda at some point, but one way or another we'll keep in touch with them."

Under the programme, surgeons in New York agree to carry out the vital operations free of charge and the hospitals accept a nominal fee.

But the $5000 is needed for the cost of flights and accommodation before and after the operation.

Hamilton Rotary Club has raised $1500 which will be matched by the Elmsford Rotary Club in New York. The remaining $2000 will come from Rotary International.

Mr. Kast said Hamilton Rotary Club had funded a similar operation for another foreign child about three or four years ago.

Children from around the world who have heart conditions are nominated by doctors who know of Rotary's charitable work.