THE Evesham Journal is joining forces with St Richard's Hospice to help them raise more than £5m for a state of the art redevelopment.

The Worcester-based hospice cares for one in five Vale cancer sufferers, and plans are already underway for the purpose-built multi-million pound hospice. The campaign will be officially launched this Saturday and the Journal has set its own target of raising £25,000 for the appeal.

Generous donations have already enabled St Richard's to buy a 3.5acre site for the new hospice at Wildwood Way, Worcester.

The new facilities will build on the hospice's current services, including 15 specialist palliative care beds for South Worcestershire to bring the area in line with the national average.

Hospice care director Rachel Bucknall said: "The new bedded hospice will make a huge difference to patients and their families.

"We know at some point many of our patients need a specialist bed and at the moment we cannot meet their needs."

The Evesham Journal is issuing a rallying cry to our all readers urging them to take part in our campaign to raise £25,000 towards the New Hospice Appeal.

From coffee mornings to pub quizzes, bungee jumps to tandem skydives the Journal needs everyone to join the fundraising bandwagon and play their part in making such a worthwhile dream a reality.

Over the past 20 years St Richard's has become an integral part of the Vale community and relies heavily on donations to ensure its services continue. Organisers are confident the support of residents will enable the new hospice to open for patients in 2006.

Former hospice governor Andrew Grant said: "Almost everyone knows someone touched by cancer, and I'm sure this knowledge will inspire everyone in the community to help us reach our target. This project will truly benefit the community and we need the people of South Worcestershire to make it happen."