MALVERN Rotary Club's Tree of Light appeal is again under way, now running for 16 consecutive years.

The two main objectives of the appeal are, firstly, is to provide a way for families and friends to remember loved ones who are no longer with them, and secondly, to raise funds for worthy causes.

More than £140,000 has been raised so far since the appeal was founded , and many local many charities have benefitted from the annual distributions of the proceeds.

One of the main causes that this year;s appeal is set to support is St Richard’s Hospice, particularly its Build 2020 campaign.

St Richard’s provides free specialist palliative and end-of-life care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, while providing support for their loved ones.

Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,000 patients,family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.

Build 2020 is a £5.3m expansion and redevelopment of the hospice to enable it to support even more patients and families.

A hospice spokesman said: "Currently areas of our hospice building in Worcester are bursting at the seams. With your help, we can build a bigger hospice to better support our current patients and reach the unmet need of thousands of local people in the future, offering the right care and support when they need it most."

A list of donors and lives remembered, updated regularly, together with the names the appeal's business sponsors, will be displayed on a screen in the central foyer of Malvern Theatres, on Rotary’s website and in the Malvern Gazette over Christmas.

For anyone who wishes to remember a loved one by sponsoring a light, an application form is attached.