THE day could soon be dawning for the start of building work for the long-awaited new palliative care centre at the James Paget University Hospital as the fundraising target creeps ever closer.

THE day could soon be dawning for the start of building work for the long-awaited new palliative care centre at the James Paget University Hospital as the fundraising target creeps ever closer.

The Palliative Care East Appeal has so far received �945,000 in donations for the centre, and once the fundraising total reaches �1m building work should start to provide support for patients and families whose lives are affected by incurable diseases.

The appeal aims to raise �1.5m in total for the centre which will be in the hospital's grounds.

What better way to get you into the Christmas mood than a big choir, lots of seasonal songs and mince pies too? Its all on offer at Potters Atlas Theatre in Hopton on Saturday afternoon, December 12, when the new Gorleston Community Choir will be performing in aid of the appeal.

The choir was set up at the start of this year with help from the SeaChange Arts Trust and the Primary Care Trust by local music teacher Jackie Whiting. It quickly attracted around 70 singers and currently has a waiting list. It

meets each Saturday morning at St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston.

So far appearances have included the Gorleston Cliff Top Gala in the summer, but the Christmas concert will be their biggest date so far.

The state-of-the-art Atlas Theatre can accommodate around 500 people and its hoped the afternoon will attract a large number. The programme will include plenty of Christmas carols and seasonal songs performed in the choir's own style. But Jackie also promises lots of chances for the audience to join

in with well known pieces and carols. It should be an afternoon to remember.

Tickets are just �10 each and this will include traditional Christmas refreshments of mince pies and Christmas cake with tea or coffee. The doors will open at 2 p.m. with the concert getting under way at 2.30.

Tickets are available from the Palliative Care Appeal office on 01493 453348 (24-hour answer machine)

A further boost to the appeal will come from Hertfordshire mum Susan Hochenberg, 36, who will be running the Cancer Research UK 10km run in the grounds of Hatfield House, Hertfordshire in aid of the Palliative Care East appeal.

Susan's mother Jean Knights, 59, from Lowestoft, received treatment at the James Paget Hospital after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. She died earlier this year, shortly after Susan's first son Louis was born.

Susan, who lives in Borehamwood, said: “Mum was fiercely independent and a palliative care centre within her local hospital would have made a real difference to her life in the final weeks and hours, in terms of pain management, symptom relief, treatment and much-needed support.”

The Grosvenor Casino on Yarmouth seafront will be hosting a special charity dinner and quiz night on November 3, starting at 7pm in aid of the appeal. For �20 guests will receive a three- course meal and there will also be a general knowledge and music quiz, plus a full night's entertainment from some of Yarmouth's most popular local acts. The appeal will receive 10pc of all proceeds from ticket sales. To buy tickets phone sales and events manager Bonnie Rayner on 07714 837302.

There will be a number of forthcoming events in aid of the appeal, including:

Today the Circus Starr will provide non-stop comedy at Yarmouth racecourse, starting at 4.45pm and 7pm.

On November 14 there will be a coffee morning at Filby church featuring stalls and a tombola between 10am and noon. All proceeds will go to the Carla Saunders Garden Appeal in aid of Palliative Care East.

On December 12 there will be a Christmas choir concert at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton.

On December 14 there will be a Christmas ladies' luncheon at the Cliff Hotel in Gorleston.

On December 19 there will be a snowflake ball at Somerleyton Hall.