A 25-year old smoker is hoping the challenge of fundraising will help her end an unhealthy habit and leave her tobacco-free in future.

Jade Myhill, of King's Lynn, has decided to do a sponsored 'stop smoking' programme in a bid to ditch the cigarettes and raise money for the Excel Appeal.

The appeal, launched by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and supported by the EDP, aims to raise £50,000 for specialist equipment, such as falls prevention kits, recliner chairs, and dementia software.

The equipment is key to the hospital's aim of providing better care for elderly patients, with many of this region's residents aged 70 and above.

Miss Myhill has signed up to the scheme run by Smokefree Norfolk, and hopes this time she can be successful in her ambition to quit the habit.

'I have tried before numerous times but never managed to stop smoking,' she said.

'This time I'm very confident because I needed something extra to push me and this fundraising is a good way to motivate myself.'

Miss Myhill, who works as a communications officer at the hospital, has smoked around 10 cigarettes every day since she was 18.

She began her challenge yesterday.

'I'm excited to take up the challenge because I'll be doing something good for me and the hospital,' she said.

She will take sponsorship from her family, friends, colleagues – and anyone else who wants to help.

But nobody will be giving her the money until she has avoided smoking for six months.

Miss Myhill said she hoped to raise several hundreds of pounds from the challenge.

'When I get a craving I will just talk about it to someone, because I find that helps,' she said.

'I will also try to do other things like walk around the hospital at times when I would normally go out for a cigarette.'

Sponsorship and donation forms are available at www.qehkl.nhs.uk/fundraising

To donate to the appeal, fill in the coupon (right) or visit www.justgiving.com/qehkl-excelappeal or you can pay by cheque made payable to 'Excel Appeal'.

Send it to Laurence Morlaàs, fundraising executive, QEH, Gayton Road, King's Lynn PE30 4ET.

Are you fundraising for the appeal? Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk