FUNDRAISING soul enthusiasts are set to give York District Hospital a boost - thanks to readers of the Evening Press.

We reported recently how organisers of a planned soul music night had only one problem.

They did not know which charity should benefit from the event, which they hoped would raise up to £1,000 for charity.

Organiser Janis Raven appealed to our readers to come up with ideas for a suitable beneficiary.

The phone went red-hot, with more than 20 callers ringing up to suggest a whole range of charities which might benefit.

"In the end we decided to put funds towards buying a much-needed piece of equipment for York District Hospital, a pulse oximeter," she said.

The device, which costs £975, is needed for respiratory clinics held three days a week in the outpatients department.

The non-invasive monitor tests oxygen saturation in the blood.

There is only one very old oximeter at present, and there is often a delay while patients are waiting to use it. A new device will reduce this inconvenience.

Janis said: "Please thank all the readers of the Evening Press for me, as it would be impossible for me to phone each one personally."

Meanwhile, there are still a few tickets left for the soul evening, which is due to be staged at York Railway Institute on Saturday, March 23, with the hall donated free of charge by the institute.

Janis said soul music had not lost its appeal over the years, and still had a big following in York, with similar events very well attended.

- Anyone wanting one of the remaining tickets, which cost £5, should contact 01904 690393.

Updated: 11:56 Monday, March 11, 2002