The Leicester Mercury Loros Appeal has now raised a massive £140,000 – but we still need your help. The Leicestershire and Rutland hospice is a charity that has supported tens of thousands of terminally-ill patients during their final days, and we launched our appeal to help it in November, writes Gemma Peplow.

As the reporter in charge of our fund-raising campaign, I spoke to patients, relatives, staff and volunteers and wrote stories about the charity's work every day in the six weeks before Christmas.

I had visited the hospice, in Groby Road, a couple of times before we started our appeal, but in those six weeks I really got to know the staff and learn about the invaluable service they provide – not just to people battling cancer and other incurable illnesses but also to their friends and relatives, who sometimes need just as much support.

In almost every story I wrote, the person I interviewed – whether it was a patient battling cancer or a grieving relative – would say they couldn't speak highly enough of Loros and that "nothing is too much trouble" for staff.

Staff themselves talked – despite the nature of their work – about the warm, happy atmosphere at the hospice and how much they enjoy working there.

The many volunteers who had lost loved ones at the hospice themselves said they could not do enough to say thank you, to "give something back."

Although these phrases may sound clichéd, to anyone who has experience of Loros there could not be truer words spoken.

The aim of our appeal is to raise the remaining £450,000 needed towards the cost of a £2m extension at the hospice.

In the six weeks leading up to Christmas the campaign seemed to take on a life of its own, with donations flooding in to the hospice and our office.

The response from readers was – and continues to be – incredible, and thanks to this generosity our appeal has now raised just over £139,000.

Although we set, and reached, a Christmas target of £100,000, we aim to continue with our fund-raising efforts throughout 2010 to help Loros raise the full amount.

So now, after weeks of pleading to Mercury readers, I am going to do my bit.

In May I will be trekking along the Great Wall of China with my sister, Nicki, to raise funds for the appeal.

It's a nine-day trek and although it is going to be an amazing experience, it's not going to be easy.

I'll be walking more than 120km, so I've bought the walking boots and am now attempting to get in shape. I also need to think up ways to raise lots of money for Loros.

We have a minimum target of £5,300 between us but would like to collect much more, so I am currently working on a few fund-raising ideas which will be announced in the Mercury soon.

I also need your help. Readers have been phenomenal over the past few months and I know it is a lot to keep asking for sponsorship, but I also know Loros is something that means a lot to a lot of people.

My mum has already got the ball rolling by organising a fund-raising dinner party (fortunately she's not a bad cook), while a family friend donated money to my appeal instead of sending Christmas cards.

From a personal point of view, no-one in my family has been treated at Loros, but I know people with relatives who have.

The hospice helps about 2,500 people in the county each year and needs to raise £4m each year just to keep this service running.

The money the Leicester Mercury is helping to raise is needed on top of that.

The new extension opened in October and has increased the number of single-bed rooms at Loros from eight to 19, giving patients the choice to spend their days there in privacy – something that is extremely important to most people suffering terminal illnesses.

I am determined to raise as much as possible so please, dig deep and sponsor me.

Or, if you would like to help me out by organising your own fund-raising event, please get in touch.

Thank you.

Send your donation to Gemma's appeal.