Members of the Pocklington and Market Weighton Ladies Circle have boosted the figure in the final countdown to the hospice £2 million appeal.

With just under £55,000 to go the group has presented a cheque for £2,200 to St Leonard's Hospice nurse Sue Taylor for the millennium appeal.

The money had been raised at a ladies day charity event held in the Ebor Suite at York Racecourse in March. Coffee and lunch were followed by a demonstration by floral designer Andrew Grisewood.

Organisers of the event, Laura and Sandra Burley, Debbie Knowlson and Catriona Davison had collected a super range of prizes and, thanks to the generosity of local people and an extremely successful day at Asda at Huntington selling raffle tickets, the raffle raised £1,400.

The balance of the donation was made up from ticket sales and a raffle for Andrew's completed floral displays.

Donations for the final countdown can be sent to the St Leonard's fundraising office at 14 York Road, Acomb, York, YO24 4LU, or dropped off in an envelope marked for the attention of Emma Harrison, St Leonard's Hospice 2000 Appeal, at the front desk of the Evening Press in Walmgate.

Or you can call into one of the shops, which are in Fourth Avenue in Tang Hall, The Village in Haxby, Waterloo Lane in Pocklington and the York Road shop in Acomb. If you are organising or taking part in any activities in the coming weeks to raise money for the appeal contact Emma Harrison in the Evening Press newsroom on 01904 653051 ext: 314 or e-mail on emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk