THEY'RE having a real ball after raising a whopping £27,000 for our Hospice 2000 Appeal.

The delighted organisers of the St Leonard's Hospice Millennium Sunflower Ball have confirmed that the final figure from their sell-out event at York Racecourse last month was £27,110.

The news is another big boost for St Leonard's, pushing its appeal total close to £1.3 million.

It comes shortly after contracts were signed with Roberts Construction of Leeds to build the £2 million hospice appeal, with work due to start next month.

The organising committee for the ball was chairman Helen Williams, Claire Grant, Val Jenkinson, Sue MacLeod, Floss Peacock, Jane Rusling, Joyce Day and Trish Telfer.

On the night Helen told the 600 guests that they hoped to raise £25,000 for the appeal, and now all accounts have been finalised they have found they have surpassed even that figure.

Helen said: "We are thrilled to have raised this amount.

"Two years ago we organised the last Sunflower ball and raised £10,000.

"We set out this time to double that and we can't believe that we have beaten our target by so much.

"Thank-you to everyone who supported, sponsored, helped and came along on the night - we couldn't have done it without you."

The committee members have already had calls about the date of the next Sunflower Ball and have decided that it should become a biennial event - they are looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2002!

The Knavesmire Stand at the racecourse was decorated for the occasion by interior designer Peter Plaskitt and floral designer Andrew Grisewood. BBC Look North's True Colours programme filmed the build-up, preparation, and guests arriving on the night.

Janet Morley, fundraising manager for the hospice, said: "This is a wonderful boost for the Hospice 2000 Appeal. The Sunflower Ball was a special night in York's social calendar and a special night for the appeal - well done and thank-you to everyone who helped make it such a success."

andrew.hitchon@ycp.co.uk

PICTURE: CELEBRATING the raising of £27,110 for the appeal through the Sunflower Ball are, from left, Janet Morley, Claire Grant, Helen Williams, Lauren Grant, aged eight, Jane Rusling and Joyce Day Picture: David Harrison