TV’s Yorkshire Vet Peter Wright has raised more than £30k to help a hospice’s mega fundraising drive.

Peter, better known for his role in the Channel 5 show The Yorkshire Vet, took on a 170-mile coast to coast ride from Morecambe to Bridlington to support Herriot Hospice.

The ride itself will feature in the next series of the show after preparations for it featured in the series finale last week, prompting dozens of fans to donate.

Read more: 'Unprecedented' response to appeal hailed as hospice charity hits funding targe​t

The funds will go towards a new hospice in Thirsk due to open its doors this autumn following a massive community appeal, which was backed by the Northern Echo’s sister paper the Darlington and Stockton Times.

The Northern Echo: The Northern Echo Front Page on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 celebrating the fundraiser smashing its £300k target.The Northern Echo Front Page on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 celebrating the fundraiser smashing its £300k target. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

It raised almost £450,000 in just 36 hours earlier this month.

Peter said: “I have been blown away by the generosity and encouragement from both local supporters and fans of the Yorkshire Vet for such a great cause close to my heart. It was a very tough challenge for me and this has made it all worthwhile!

“I’d love people to keep donating to and supporting this important cause – getting the doors open is one thing, but now our challenge is to keep the money coming in, to cover running costs for our new hospice.”

The new hospice, based at the former Lambert Memorial Hospital, will be a warm, welcoming place for people in Hambleton and Richmondshire  living with terminal illness, offering personalised care for them and their families.

The building will house an inpatient unit with 6 bedrooms, a community hub, specialist bereavement and emotional wellbeing support and provide a permanent base for the charity’s well-established community service.

Once open, the new facility will enable Herriot Hospice Homecare to support an additional 500 people each year. Currently people have to travel 30 miles or more to access hospice inpatient care.

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Chief Executive of Herriot Hospice Homecare, Tony Collins said: “We are very grateful to Peter for his loyal support and we heartily congratulate him on the success of his latest challenge.

He added: “The money Peter has raised – together will funds still coming in from our community - will be essential as our new local hospice gets up and running. It could help us to grow our team of nurses and professionals to offer care from this very special site and help add the essential touches to make our hospice a real home from home.”

Anyone wishing to show their support for Peter’s fundraising can donate on his JustGiving page.