THE Hospice 2000 appeal today smashed through another important barrier taking it firmly beyond the halfway mark on the way to raising £2million.

The Evening Press and fundraising managers at St Leonard's Hospice are delighted to announce the appeal has passed the £1.2m mark and reached £1,200,896.39.

Karen Russell, finance and fundraising manager for St Leonard's Hospice, said: "We are so pleased that thanks to the Evening Press and its readers we are now well on our way to our target of £2million.

"Every event and every donation is important and we still need lots of people to come forward, to contact our fundraising centre with donations or with offers to organise an event.

"We are hoping to make a start on the building of the new annexe to the hospice this summer.

"Working together we can do it!"

Sky Ferrey, PA to Evening Press editor Liz Page, marked the occasion by adding another petal to the sunflower totalizer in the Evening Press reception.

Liz said: "I would like to say thank you to Sky who has worked hard from the outset to get this appeal off the ground.

"She has also organised fundraising events with Evening Press staff to contribute to the appeal."

Recent donations included £500 from the Rotary Club of York Vikings in memory of much-respected Rotarian and original architect of the hospice, Peter Marshall, who died last year.

This weekend there is a farm open day at Wilstrop Hall Farm, Green Hammerton, between 10am and 4pm.

There will be refreshments and competitions in aid of the appeal and attractions will include a children's corner with a Shire horse and foal, pigs and chickens, sheepdog handling and sheep shearing display.

There will be farm walks and a small farmers' market selling local produce and the farm's own beef.

The Hospice 2000 Appeal aims to raise £2million to redevelop the hospice and extend its services to care for more people.