WHAT you have achieved so far is nothing short of remarkable. In two years, you have raised £1.4 million for our Hospice 2000 Appeal.

Every penny of this splendid total has come from our family of readers, through legacies and fund-raising events.

Your efforts have ensured this is already our most successful appeal ever, by some considerable margin. It was always a hugely ambitious project designed to match the momentous move into a new Millennium. The people of York have proved themselves equal to the task.

In a fairer world, St Leonard's Hospice would have already reached the £2 million target needed for its extension. Twice, however, its application for lottery cash has been turned down.

It is difficult to imagine a better 'good cause' than the redevelopment of the hospice. Yet somehow the worthies who distribute our lottery money could not see that.

Their mistakes were made all the more unpalatable by the largesse with which our cash is dished out to undeserving causes. Principal among these is the Dome. As it was announced that another £47 million of lottery money was being wasted on this monstrous testament to the political ego, we learned that the hospice's bid for £200,000 had been rejected.

Good money was thrown after bad at the disastrous Greenwich playground. Meanwhile, St Leonard's, a superbly managed, caring environment for the dying, received nothing. All those excuses about the money coming from different lottery funds cuts no odds with York people who believe this was an injustice bordering on the obscene.

The consequence is plain. We have to raise all the money ourselves. That is why we launched the latest phase of the Hospice 2000 campaign today.

Everyone can get involved. And we will chart the results of your renewed efforts on our new graphic of the hospice extension.

We know our readers can do it. Help us to the £2 million target. Help us to complete the picture.