£100,000 to go!

HOSPICE staff and volunteers were today celebrating reaching the £1.2million mark in their £1.3million appeal for a new day centre.

East Lancashire Hospice chairman Geoff Braithwaite said he was delighted to reach the last milestone in the campaign which began two years ago.

Fundraiser Stuart Andrew said: "This is tremendous news and means we only have another £100,000 to raise for the building.

"It is a tribute to everyone who has supported us by organising events or giving so willingly. We will soon have a modern hospice ready for local people."

Work has already begun on the scheme to modernise the Park Lee building and build an extension which will almost double its size.

Mr Braithwaite said: "Rain held up the builders during the first part of the works so they have been concentrating on work on the hospice interior.

"Now the weather is better they are able to do more on the extension work, which will house day therapy rooms, a chapel and a kitchen."

The fundraisers' next aim is to begin planning schemes to raise the £300,000 needed every year to run the new facilities.

Geoff said they were considering starting a local lottery, similar to the Burnley and Bury hospices' schemes.

He said: "Lotteries take a long time to get going but Bury's raises £120,000 for their hospice every year."

If you want to help the appeal, call the East Lancashire Hospice Appeals Office on 01254 660900 or Amy Binns at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph on 01254 678678 ext 208.

Donations can be made at any Natwest branch into the East Lancashire Hospice Fund Day Care Unit Appeal account, sort code 01-00-85 a/c 12804509.