A STAGGERING £15,000 has been raised by this year's 'Light Up a Life for a Loved One' appeal at St John's Hospice in Wirral. And more than £5,000 of that came from Globe readers who returned our special coupon.

More than 1,000 people attended last Thursday night's switch-on of the lights, which will be lit until Twelfth Night (January 6). "As last year, the response from the people of Wirral has been absolutely incredible . . . we are all so grateful," said Fundraising Manager Helen Crawford.

Officials at St John's, which provides invaluable care for the terminally ill and their families, are now preparing for the launch of Wirral's newest lottery in just four weeks' time . . .

The St John's Hospice in Wirral Weekly Lottery offers a top prize of £2,000 and 53 other prizes ranging from £500 to £5.

St John's needs to raise £1 million annually to maintain its levels of service and Lottery Manager Allan Stewart believes that membership of the new lottery would make an ideal Christmas present - one that could pay handsome dividends in weeks to come . . .

First draw takes place on Friday, January 2, 1998, and will be made by the Mayor of Wirral, Coun Barney Gilfoyle. Membership of the St John's Hospice Lottery is open to people aged 16 or over and will cost £1 per week. That buys one ticket which gives the holder a unique number selected by computer.

The 54 winning numbers will be published each week in the Wirral Globe.

There are two ways to play - either by paying in advance on a 'block booking' basis or by paying a collector who will call every other week. Contact Allan Stewart on 334-0348 for more details.

Allan also wants to hear from would-be canvassers and collectors.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.