A CAMPAIGN to build a hospice in the region has raised more than £100,000 within four weeks of its launch.

But although offers of support are flooding in from companies and businesses across the North-East, more money is needed to make the project a reality.

On January 23, The Northern Echo and Butterwick Hospice launched the Put Your Foot In It campaign, which calls on businesses and individuals to help raise cash for the two-storey hospice on Teesside.

The initiative will enable Butterwick Hospice, in Stockton, to offer more care to patients and their families.

The building will stretch across 5,400sq ft over two floors, providing more counselling rooms for adults and a play area for children.

More individual therapy rooms will be created, along with a large area for group therapy sessions.

The larger area will also double as an education room to enable hospice staff to share their expertise with other care providers.

The building will cost £750,000 and work needs to start in November for a completion date of July next year.

Jackie Leighton, from the hospice, said: "We have been talking to people about this appeal for quite some time because it took us a long time to get the go-ahead for it.

"So, in the interim period, we had a lot of pledges of support.

"Local companies do want to support their local areas - they want to be involved in what's going on in their own community and help local people. There was a good body of interest to help us achieve what we are trying to do.

"People are really getting behind the campaign to raise money."

With £100,000 in the bank, the hospice can now start talking to builders.

Trevor Newlove, appeals manager for the hospice, said: "We are still looking for companies and businesses who pledged money to come back to us with the cash.

"We want to say a big thank you to all the supporters so far - they have been brilliant."

The campaign asks individuals and companies to pay for a square foot of space in the new building. That square foot will carry the name of the person or business that sponsored it and a roll of honour will be listed on the Put Your Foot In It website.

The list will also be put in the new building's reception.

To support the campaign, visit putyourfootinit. org. uk The cost of each square foot is £100. Donations can be made securely online or by calling 01642-607742.

What's on and when A HOST of events is being organised to support the fundraising campaign.

May 11 - A Dragon Boat Challenge on the River Wear, in Durham City, from noon until 5pm. Dragon boat racing, a Chinese tradition dating back more than 2,000 years, involves competitors taking to decorated long boats - measuring up to 40ft end-to-end.

The event is run by Three River Serpents, based at Durham Amateur Rowing Club.

Companies and businesses are asked to put forward teams of 12 to 18, with £50 sponsorship per head.

July 5 - Summer ball at Beamish Hall Hotel, County Durham, from 7pm to 1am.

Tables of ten are available at £50 per head. Places are limited.

August 10 - Race Day at Redcar Racecourse, east Cleveland. Tickets are £15, with half the proceeds going to the hospice appeal.

For more information, or to buy tickets, call Trevor Newlove on 01642-607742.