BUILDING work has now begun on the new St Rocco's Hospice.

The builders are on site digging the drains fo rthe £1.5 million, purpose-built hospice and will soon be ready to start laying the foundations. If all goes to plan, the building should be completed in November and the patients will be able to move in before Christmas.

The fund-raising appeal has lready raised enough money to build three quarters of the new hospice but about £400,000 is still needed so keep that money coming in!

A Padgate couple have raised £502 for the St Rocco's Hospice Appeal.

Gordon and Marjorie Lawless held a quiz night at St Oswald's Club, Padgate Lane.

The couple are aiming to raise £1,000 for the worthy cause and are holding another quiz at the club on Friday, March 27 at 8pm.

St Rocco's Appeals office is increasing its empire of charity shops with a new store in the Hood Manor Centre.

The charity is due to receive the keys this week and it is hoped that the shop will open at the end of March after re-decorating.

Volunteers are needed to help man the shop. Contact the Appeals Office on 242803 for details.

Have a drink on St Rocco's by entering the charity's 'boozy draw.'

The charity have around 100 bottles of assorted wines and spirits up for grabs. Last year's raffle raised £2,500 and the Appeal's Office are aiming to beat that total.

Tickets cost just 20 pence and come in books of five. Volunteers are also needed to sell the tickets in their shops, businesses and among friends and relations. Call the Appeals Office on 242803.

Tickets are selling out fast for the St Rocco's trip to the Granada Studios Tour. Join the Appeals Office team for a stroll down Baker Street and the haunts of Sherlock Holmes, pop into the Rovers Return on Coronation Street for a pint, or why not try the Tour's cinema experience complete with seats that move in time with the film.

Tickets for the day out on Monday, April 6 cost just £6.50, which means a saving of up to £6 per person. All profits go to the hospice appeal.

Call the Appeals Office on 242803 for tickets.

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