David's joy at £72,000 donated by Leicester Mercury readers

The family of the great-grandfather who helped launch our Leicester Mercury Loros Appeal said he was "overwhelmed" to find out how much readers have raised for the hospice.

Cancer sufferer David Berry, who was at Loros for respite care when we launched our appeal three weeks ago, is now back at the hospice after his condition deteriorated.

The 74-year-old was too ill to speak to the Mercury yesterday, but his wife, Brenda, said he was "pleased and proud" to hear about the generosity of people in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Readers have now donated almost £22,000 towards our appeal, taking the total raised to £72,000 thanks to a bequest left in a former patient's will.

Brenda, of Thurnby Lodge, said: "One of the staff at Loros told David about all the donations and things coming in and thanked him. He said 'I don't know why you're thanking me, I only said what I think' but he was very pleased.

"It's nice to know he has helped."

Not only has David's story, which featured on the front page of the paper when we launched our appeal on November 16, helped to inspire readers to raise thousands of pounds for Loros, but it has also reunited him with a long-lost friend.

Brian Barker, of Melton, immediately recognised David when he saw his picture.

Brian, who turned 70 on the day of our appeal launch, grew up with David and another friend, Janet Hill, in Highfields.

But Janet, whose surname is now Matta, moved to America and after a reunion in 1993, they lost touch.

Now, not only has Brian been visiting David, he has also contacted Janet, who sent $100 to our appeal from her home, in Sacramento.

Brian said: "I just saw the Mercury and thought it has to be him. I went to see him at the hospice a couple of weeks ago and he was quite chipper.

"I'm so pleased that I've got to see him again. He's in a good place.

"I'd never been before I went to see him, but it's beautiful."

Brenda said the reunion was a nice surprise for David.

She said: "They had a lovely afternoon together talking about the old times.

"He was so pleased to see Brian and hear about Janet.

"He was an only child so she was like his sister. She sent us a letter last week and it started 'Dear big brother.' It was really nice."

Leicester City fan David also had a visit from Foxes legend Alan Birchenall yesterday.

The Birch, who is a patron of Loros, spent time with David and his family and gave him a City shirt signed by all the players.

Brenda said she wanted to thank him.

She said: "He's very kind, he's a lovely man."

The Leicester Mercury Loros Appeal aims to help raise £450,000 towards the cost of a new extension at the hospice.

We have now collected almost £72,000 and hope to raise even more before Christmas.

Loros fund-raising manager Diane Morris said: "It's absolutely fantastic that readers have raised almost £22,000.

"We might need to put on four or five events that take several months of planning to raise that much, so it really is an absolutely tremendous response and we are extremely grateful to Leicester Mercury readers for supporting us."