A GOLF tournament is being held to raise money for a charity appeal launched by a keen player who died of cancer.

Teams of four from businesses in the Darlington area will compete for the Rob Niven trophy at Stressholme Golf Course on Monday October 14.

Mr Niven, an architect in the town, launched the St Teresa's Hospice Giving to Life appeal just days before his death earlier this year.

The appeal is aiming to raise £250,000 to open and run a six bed full-time care unit at the hospice.

At the moment the hospice, which helps patients in Darlington and the surrounding area, can only offer day care and support in people's own homes.

The new unit would provide respite care as well as a pleasant environment for people who do not want to be in hospital but are too ill to be at home.

The appeal total has just been boosted by £4,000 thanks to an anonymous donation from a Darlington woman who read about it in The Northern Echo.

Her donation will help turn one of the rooms in the hospice into a bedroom for the new unit.

Anyone who would like to donate to the appeal is asked to contact Craig Linton on (01325) 254319 or email cldarlington-hospice.org.uk.