Our Hospice 2000 Appeal has hit the £1.4 million mark - helped by an unexpected legacy of £15,000.

Father Tom Mylod, of English Martyrs' Roman Catholic Church, in Dalton Terrace, who heads the chaplaincy team at St Leonard's Hospice, celebrated by making the latest addition to the giant sunflower "petalometer" outside the Tadcaster Road building.

It means the hospice's Millennium Appeal now stands at £1,409,660, a figure reached more quickly than anticipated thanks to the bequest from the estate of a York resident.

Meanwhile, two important new appointments have been made at St Leonard's Hospice.

Jackie Turpin, 40, has joined the senior management committee as finance manager and company secretary.

A chartered accountant, Jackie is responsible for all aspects of finance and IT at the hospice.

She was educated at the former Mill Mount Grammar School in York and Manchester University.

The position of Anglican representative on the hospice chaplaincy team has been filled by the Rev Martin Baldock, following his induction as Vicar of St Edward the Confessor, Dringhouses.

* The Come And Sing Messiah in York Minster on Saturday, October 14, as part of the world-wide BT Voices for Hospices is an opportunity for all to go along to support the appeal.

For more information, or if you want to organise an event, contact the fundraising centre at 14 York Road, Acomb, York, YO24 4LU, telephone 01904 781576.