YORK’S St Leonard’s Hospice has appealed for help to make the run-up to Easter a sweet success.

The hospice is asking local businesses to host one of its ‘Chocolate Bouquets’.

Every year the hospice takes hundreds of pounds-worth of donated chocolate which is then made into eye-catching bouquets by volunteers.

Businesses from the area can then ‘host’ one of these bouquets, raising up to £100 in the process.

Each bouquet is hand delivered to enterprises, along with a St Leonard’s Easter collection tin, a 100 squares raffle sheet and an envelope with the winning number inside.

Then staff and customers pay £1 and choose a square. The winning square is drawn when all numbers are taken, or by April 17 – whichever comes first.

Sue Edwards, who organises the bouquets at the hospice, said: “We rely heavily on the support of local people and businesses, and this is a great way to support us.”

“We’d like to thank all the businesses that have taken one so far, and also Bernard Pote, Choc Affair and York Cocoa House for their generous donations, and Floral Elegance for their valuable help with acquiring materials.”

The money raised is vital in helping the hospice continue to care for local people. £100 could provide specialist equipment to maintain a patient’s comfort at the hospice or fund 900 miles of travel for the Hospice@Home nurses.

If you think your business could host an Easter Bouquet, please phone Sue on 01904 777 777.