A MAJOR milestone in our Hospice 2000 Appeal has been reached - thanks to you.

Your sponsored swims, head shaves and donations are paying off, and construction work has now started on St Leonard's Hospice's £2 million annexe.

But as a massive drill bored deep into the ground to lay foundations at the Tadcaster Road site, the appeal for more cash was renewed so the dream of radically-improved care for terminally ill people in North and East Yorkshire can be realised.

Fundraising manager Janet Morley said: "We are on the homeward stretch, but we need people to keep supporting us and raising money so we can equip and run the new facilities."

The total reached so far stands at an impressive £1,363,707.

When the three-storey in-patient annexe opens next autumn it will enable the hospice to care for more patients, enhance their privacy and comfort, improve and extend day care facilities and create a new clinic for outpatients.

Accommodation will be provided for visiting families and their children, and an education centre will allow continued staff training.

The hospice's existing buildings will also be redeveloped.

St Leonard's chief executive Steven Harker said: "The finished redevelopment will make a tremendous difference to the service and care we are able to provide for our patients and their families."

Chris Evans, contracts manager for Roberts Construction, said they had experience in projects where noise and mess had to be kept to a minimum.

The firm constructed the cancer care unit at York District Hospital, funded by York Against Cancer, after a previous appeal by the Evening Press.

Next month the foundation stone will be laid at the site by the president of the hospice, the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope.

Donations can be made by contacting the St Leonard's Hospice fundraising centre on 01904 781576.