STANDING on the site of the much-awaited extension to St Leonard's Hospice, and showing off their very own "totaliser", are the York workers committed to helping to make the £2 million dream a reality.

When the group of staff from Norwich Union toured the hospice they were dressed very casually - for an official visit. But it was all for a good cause, because the date coincided with their first "dress down day" of the year when they donate funds to one of their chosen charities.

The group of fundraisers were from the 400-strong Business Services Department, which has adopted the hospice Millennium appeal and the RSPCA as their charities to support this year.

Five staff have been assigned to each charity, to come forward with fundraising ideas and to find out about how their donations will help the good causes. The hospice appeal will benefit from the dress-down days every two months, and from a series of other events, the first of which is a pub quiz on Tuesday at the Brewers Arms in Rougier Street.

Sarah Harrison, a customer services technician, said: "Staff voted which charities to support and we will be coming up with lots of ideas for events.

"My personal challenge is a sponsored walk in May from York to Riccall. The company encourages us to take part in community fundraising, and it should be good fun, as well as helping the hospice with its valuable work."

Janet Morley, fundraising manager for St Leonard's, said: "The group was very interested to see around the hospice and to learn what we are planning to do to increase the care and services for patients in the future.

"It is vital that as many people as possible consider us to support with their fundraising, as we depend on the local community for the majority of our funding and for the completion of our Millennium appeal. We hope they get a lot out of their fundraising too."

Total raised so far: £1,644,070.30

Updated: 10:56 Monday, February 05, 2001