Some of the youngest supporters of our Hospice 2000 Appeal have raised an amazing £220 in 10p pieces - which they handed over in a wheelbarrow.

The three and four-year-old children of St Paul's Nursery School in York have been collecting the 2,200 coins since the beginning of the year.

All 110 of the children took part, watching their total grow with the help of a tree-shaped chart.

The nursery school in St Paul's Square, in Holgate, has regularly supported St Leonard's Hospice, including taking part in the special schools' Sunflowers in York Minster and organising a teddy bears' picnic.

One of the collection organisers, nursery nurse Jose Good, said: "We know the hospice is a very good local cause, and many of our children's families have connections with it."

Meanwhile a group of York rowers went to great lengths to help pull in over £1,250 for the Appeal, rowing thousands of yards but not going anywhere.

The general manager of the Swallow Hotel in York's Tadcaster Road, Chris Wilson, organised an indoor rowing challenge in the hotel's fitness suite with fellow enthusiast Jon Whitmore.

Entry fees and sponsorship money were donated to the appeal, bringing the hotel's contribution this year to more than £2,000.

Mr Wilson said: "It needs a lot of endurance to row like this, and everyone who entered our challenge did fantastically well."

Janet Morley, fundraising organiser for St Leonard's, thanked the children and the rowers for their wonderful support for the hospice.

Tickets are still available for the Sunflower Ball in aid of the appeal on Saturday June 10 at York Racecourse.

To order tickets for the buffet supper send a cheque (for £35 per person) made out to "Sunflower Ball" to Helen Williams, Springhouse Farm, New Road, Escrick, York YO19 6EZ.

A prize auction at the York's Hospitality Awards 2000 at York Racecourse on Monday is set to benefit our Hospice 2000 Appeal.

For further information or to book tickets for the event at £19.50 each call Jeff Lea on 01904-624165.