MOLE Avon has announced that during its 40th year of trading it will support Hospiscare as its main charity of 2013.

Mole Avon, which will be celebrating 40 years as a limited company this year, is launching its Ruby Appeal, aiming to raise £40,000 for the charity.

The money will be raised through a series of fundraising events throughout the year, including a sky dive, the Hospiscare men's walk and ladies' walk, plus events at Mole Avon's retail branches and within their local communities.

Richard Billson, Mole Avon chief executive, said: 'We are delighted to be supporting Hospiscare in our 40th anniversary year.

'They are a local charity and one which has touched our members of staff, customers, suppliers and their families.

'We hope to raise £40,000 to mark our anniversary, but would be thrilled to raise more than that for such a worthy cause.

'We are keen to work with local people in all our trading areas for this appeal. Hospiscare has support groups, nursing teams and shops close to all our branches and we are very pleased to be associated with them.'

Hospiscare, which provides end-of-life care for people from Exeter, Mid and East Devon, has been supporting people in the area for more than 30 years. The charity gives high-quality care and dedicated support to people who are terminally ill, free of charge in their own homes, in dedicated day care centres or in the hospice.

To continue with their work they need to raise £5-million this year.

John Arnold, corporate fundraiser for Hospiscare, said: 'We are absolutely delighted and also very honoured that Mole Avon has chosen Hospiscare to be their charity of the year for their 40th anniversary.

'We celebrated our own 30th anniversary last year, so between us we have very deep roots in the community. We are very much looking forward to everything Mole Avon has planned for 2013. Their plan to raise £40,000 for us is truly inspirational and will mean so much to so many people here.'

For more information about forthcoming fundraising events in Okehampton or if you can help with the Mole Avon Ruby Appeal, contact the Okehampton branch on 01837 53886.