A CHARITY based at St Mary's College in Twickenham is helping to build an AIDS hospice in Guatemala.

Strawberry Hill Overseas Concern, the Third World charity of St Mary's, is helping Proyecto Vida (Project Life) to raise £50,000 for the hospice in Coatepeque.

Project Life was started ten years ago by former St Mary's student Dee Smith. The voluntary organisation provides information and education relating to the prevention of HIV/AIDS, health services for people living with the disease, laboratory testing for HIV with counselling and psychological and social provision for those living with HIV/AIDS. The next phase in its work is the construction of a small hospice for the incurably sick.

Funds are being raised for this project by local churches and through sponsorship of a member of staff at St Mary's who is running in the London Marathon. Anyone wishing to contribute to this appeal may do so by sending a cheque, made payable to St Mary's College' to: Kevin L Cook, St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, TW1 4SX. Email cookk@smuc.ac.uk or telephone 8240 4017.