VIRTUAL balloons and terrier dogs are helping to raise vital funds for St Leonard's Hospice in York.

A number of events are being held or planned for the hospice on Tadcaster Road to support its work in providing end-of-life care for people.

Among the more unusual fundraisers is a virtual balloon race, which will start on Christmas Day after its success last year.

At the stroke of midnight on December 25, Santa will release 'virtual' balloons from Lapland.

The computerised balloons will be sent on their way on a seven-day race, but the path each balloon takes will depend on the actual weather conditions during race week.

To increase the chance of flying further or for longer, all the balloons can be personalised on line by choosing the size, shape and even the thickness of the rubber, with prizes for the balloons that travel the furthest.

Each virtual balloon costs just £3. Players need to go online where they can choose a balloon, decorate it and even add a message. They can then track its progress to find out their position in the race.

The winning balloon will win an Apple iPad. Other prizes include an overnight stay at York’s Hilton Hotel, a digital camera, a toy hamper and shopping vouchers.

Last year’s race raised more than £1500 for the work of the hospice, which the organiser, hospice community fundraiser Sarah Atkinson hopes to beat.

"Last year’s race was fun, with people tracking their balloons for a week after the launch. The race is 100 per cent eco-friendly, with no real balloons to litter the countryside! If any schools would like to take part we can offer them a share of the proceeds – or why not get your work colleagues to take part in the race? And, of course, Virtual Balloon gift cards make an ideal stocking-filler or table favour, too!’

Meanwhile £1000 has been raised for St Leonard’s Hospice@Home service by a terrier show which was held at Newton-upon-Ouse, on the farm of John Jacklin, whose wife Yvonne was cared for by Hospice@Home.

John wanted to help the hospice, so he asked Bob Gibson, terrier breeder and regular show organiser, to put on a show at the farm, where he had held many other events.

Mr Gibson said: "So many people came that it made me feel ten feet tall!

"We raised £1000 in a very short time, and it was all to say thank you for the way in which Mrs Jacklin was really well looked after at home by Hospice@Home. Everyone was very generous."

St Leonard’s Hospice@Home staff work alongside a patient’s primary care team as part of the package of care set up to support patients and their families at the end of their lives.

The Hospice@Home service also supports rapid discharge from hospital or hospice when someone chooses to die at home.

St Leonard's Hospice is invited people to dedicate a light in memory of a loved one or in honour of a friend or relative this Christmas.

The hospice's Christmas trees this year will be in St Helen’s Square, York, Selby Abbey, the hospice grounds and, new this year, Easingwold Village Green.

They will all bear hundreds of twinkling lights, each one representing the life of someone special.

Each name will be recorded in the hospice Book of Honour which will be placed in the Chapel at the Hospice and also in Selby Abbey and displayed over the Christmas period.

The lights will shine until Twelfth Night.

The trees will be illuminated at a special carol service in St Helen’s Square, York, this Sunday at 6pm, and in Selby Abbey, Selby, on Sunday, December 14 at 4.30pm.

For details on the Virtual Balloon Race, call Hospice Fundraising on 01904 77 77 77, e-mail fundraising@stleonardshospice.org.uk or visit https://slh.rentaballoonrace.com/admin