Bricks lay foundations for appeal's final effort

Using our artist's impression of how the enhanced and extended hospice will appear, we will bring you regular updates on the progress of the final stages of our campaign to find the £2 million required.

As we reach each milestone in this vital fundraising process, we will bring different parts of the building to "life" in full colour, illustrating not only the remaining parts of our appeal but also the eventual outline of the hospice, with its distinctive rotunda design.

You can help us straight away in bringing the project to fruition, as we launch our new Buy A Brick Appeal, in which you can quite literally purchase a part of the new development.

Each brick will cost £5, and the hospice will provide everyone who supports it in this way with a special certificate.

The coupon accompanying the graphic includes details of how to make this really lasting contribution to the St Leonard's project.

Hospice fundraising manager Janet Morley said: "It was a terrific milestone when last February we passed the £1 million mark for our appeal. Now as we approach £1.5 million, the final quarter is within our sights at last.

"We are very positive that we can do it. However, it will require a huge effort and the Buy A Brick campaign is just one way that people can help. If just half the population of the area we serve bought one brick for £5 we'd be there!"

The finished building will have 20 beds, with 12 in single rooms and the rest in two four-bedded wards. It will have an outpatient clinic for the first time, and expanded and integrated day care.

In addition, the new hospice complex will contain improved areas for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and complementary therapy, an education centre, a family room and a children's play room.

Another big day is due on October 24, when the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, who is president of St Leonard's, will lay the foundation stone for the new annexe.

Click here to buy a brick