Letter: In July 2005 my friend, Ken Ballantyne, and I published a book, The Journey. The book was written in memory of my two daughters who both died of cancer, but also to support the Severn Hospice Appeal Fund.

The book became a “best seller”, so from grant applications, public appeals, personal requests, public speeches and donations from my book, just three weeks ago, as the first beds at the Apley site were being occupied by the terminally ill, I was able to hand my cheque to the hospice to reach my target figure of £25,000.

My reason for writing are two-fold. Firstly to thank all members of clubs and institutions, rotary, the RAF, companies, shops and councils and others and especially you, the public, who have generously supported me in my fundraising during the past two years.

Without you I would have never reached my target. My thanks must also go to the Shropshire Star and Shropshire Magazine editors who have given me so much support.

Secondly, it costs the hospice £1.6 million a year to run, and this sum is mainly supported by the public; so I have now decided to increase my target to £35,000.

So to the many hundreds of you out there – think of those who are not so fortunate as ourselves and help me to achieve this target by sending me your cheque for say £5 of £10 made payable to the Severn Hospice to: 10 Lower Park Drive, Shawbirch, Telford TF1 3PY. All monies will be acknowledged by me and the hospice.

My many thanks to you all.

Ted Cowling DFC, Shawbirch