STAFF at the Best Western Monkbar Hotel in York are taking part in Wear Yellow Day on Wednesday along with other local businesses to help raise funds for St Leonard's Hospice in York.

Why yellow? Because it is the colour of sunflowers, the symbol of the National Hospice Movement.

Janet Morley, fundraising manager for St Leonard's Hospice, said: "St Leonard's cares for people in the local area who are living with life-threatening illnesses, we also look after their families at a time which can be very difficult for them too.

"We rely on the generosity of local people to help us raise nearly all the money we need to run the hospice, which is more than £2 million a year. We are delighted the Best Western Monkbar Hotel will be taking part in Wear Yellow Day to raise funds for St Leonard's."

June Nelsey, the hotel's director, said: "St Leonard's provides an important service for the local area and I think it is great that local businesses are pulling together to help raise awareness of their good work by wearing yellow and making a donation to the hospice."

Updated: 10:57 Friday, June 17, 2005