WHEN the new Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Bellahouston Park officially opens tomorrow, it will be thanks to the love and determination of Evening Times readers.

Our fantastic print and online audience has played a massive part in raising the £21m needed to build a new home for the highly respected institution.

Evening Times Editor Donald Martin said: “When we first announced our backing for the ambitious Brick by Brick Appeal back in 2012, we knew it would be a huge task.

“We also knew our readers would be up to it. The Evening Times has a strong campaigning history, whether it is fighting against injustice for the people of Glasgow, bringing communities together or fundraising for much-needed institutions and resources.

“The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice is a fantastic place, and it means a great deal to many of our readers. We have backed the Brick by Brick appeal every step of the way and we were delighted to announce the total had been reached earlier this year.

“Tomorrow’s opening is a wonderful moment and the Evening Times is proud to have played its part.”

TV presenter Carol Smillie helped us to announce the Brick by Brick appeal just over six years ago and it did not take long for our readers to get on board.

Since then, our readers have run races, held parties, climbed mountains and more for the hospice. They have shaved their heads, held pjyama parties and bought hundreds of our very own Times Past calendar, some of the proceeds of which went to the appeal.

Above all, they have shared moving and inspirational stories, all about why the hospice means so much.

Gemma Louden did the hospice’s Midnight Walk to raise money in memory of her mum, Maureen, 56, who had stomach cancer.

“It’s an amazing place, and the staff did so much for us, we’re only too happy to help them,” said chemistry teacher Gemma, who is from Law.

Horse rider and showjumper Nicola Malcolm , who was just 25, organised a black tie dinner which raised the incredible sum of £35,000 for the appeal.

The hospice has a special place in Nicola’s heart because her late grandfather, Malcolm group founder Donald Malcolm, helped clear the site for the hospice’s day centre in 1995.

Penilee fundraiser John Brady organised a race night for the appeal, as a way of saying thank-you for the care his beloved wife Jacqueline received from the hospice team.

The couple had married just six weeks before she died.

“When you walk in those doors, it’s as if somebody puts two arms around you and gives you a big hug,” said John.

Julie Buckley was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2009, and died in 2011 in the hospice with her sister Su by her side.

Su said: “I cannot begin to thank the hospice people for all they did in those final few days. They treated Julie with a respect, love and care that I thought possible only from her family. And that care and love was extended to us, her family and her close friends who visited.”

Su and a group of close friends cycled 200 miles as a thank you to the hospice and raised more than £5000.

Steven Rooney and his girlfriend Amanda Weir copied oddball 1969 comedy film Monte Carlo or Bust to raise more than £2000. They drove an old banger - decorated with colourful bricks like the logo of the appeal - across France, Switzerland and Italy, in memory of loved ones who had been cared for by the hospice.

A group of local women set about raising the £40,000 needed for a spa bathroom. One of the group, Kirsty McFarlane, from Newton Mearns also took part in the Clyde Stride with her young daughter Laura, helping to raise even more money in the process.

“My aunt died here a number of years ago and I wanted to come back and do something to help,” said Kirsty.

The existing hospice in Carlton Place has been caring for people with cancer and other life-limiting conditions for more than 30 years.

The new facilities will enable the staff to deliver excellent care in state of the art surroundings and, for the first time, be able to support younger patients.

The new building also offers private en-suite rooms with access to social spaces and landscaped gardens.

Hospice chairperson Maureen Henderson and chief executive Rhona Baillie will be joined by Glasgow’s Lord Provost Eva Bolander to perform the opening ceremony for the new building tomorrow morning. Don’t miss tomorrow’s Evening Times for the second part of the three-part series all about the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.