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The charity launched the two-year appeal after revealing it has a £9m funraising gap over the £21m plan.
It wants people and groups to join fundraising ‘appeal challenges’, organise events and make donations.
The Silhillian last week reported that the charity wants to change a 2009 planning agreement with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to fund the new development.
It wants to axe the requirement to provide 40 per cent affordable housing when it sells its current Warwick Lane Hospice for homes.
This would make it easier to sell the site and bring in £1.5m instead of £800,000, it said. Proceeds would go towards to Marsh Lane plan.
The new hospice scheme angered some residents as it is for Green Belt land. Residents warned of an increase in traffic and encroachment on the ‘Meriden gap’.
Chris Rawstron, chairman of the charity’s Big Build Appeal committee, said: “The existing hospice has had tremendous support from local people over the years and today we’re calling on everyone across the West Midlands to renew and intensify that support to help make this new hospice a reality.
“Every contribution, large or small, will help to ensure we have a hospice that can give us and future generations the care and support that we and our families need, completely free of charge.”
She said: “The current hospice has done an excellent job caring for thousands of patients over the years, but the 100 year-old building is reaching the end of its useful life and urgently needs replacing.”
The hospice warned it could have to downscale its plans if the affordable housing requirement is not removed.
The current plan includes 24 en-suite rooms, expanded day services, landscaped gardens with direct access from rooms and training facilities. It would be the charity’s operational base in the West Midlands.
Mrs Rawstron said: “The new hospice will provide fantastic facilities, increased patient capacity and expanded day care and outpatient services.
“With their own individual, en-suite rooms, patients will have the privacy and dignity they deserve as well as space to spend time with their families.”
Hospice manager Liz Cottier said: “The new hospice will let us expand even further the range of services on offer and we’ll have a spacious modern setting with beautiful gardens.
“My biggest concern is always for our patients and families – they need the most modern facilities for first-rate medical care, but they also need space and privacy to talk, laugh and sometimes cry together.
“We are calling on people throughout the region to join us in making this possible.”
Charity volunteers will talk about the appeal in Mell Square tomorrow.
For information call Lynn Wood, area fundraising manager, on 0121 254 7844 or visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk/bigbuild
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