A regional daily has launched a £100,000 appeal to support a Help for Heroes recovery centre, as it marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

The Northern Echo has started the major fundraising drive for a new centre at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire which will help servicemen and women who are suffering from physical and psychological injuries.

The “£100,000 For Our Heroes” campaign aims to raise enough money to set up a new Wellbeing Centre at the Phoenix House Recovery Centre at Catterick, which is run by Help for Heroes to support Army veterans and their families.

Editor Peter Barron said there had been a positive response to the appeal in its first week when £700 had been pledged by readers.

In a blog post about the campaign, he wrote: “We have set out to reach our target by Remembrance Sunday in November. There is a long way to go but the appeal has got off to an encouraging start.

“Within the first week, readers have pledged £700 in initial donations and we know that fundraising events are being planned.

“There are already moving examples of why people want to help. In today’s paper, we highlight the example of the appeal’s first donor – Dorothy Laurence.

“Dorothy pledged £100 because temporarily losing the use of her arm in an accident made her think about how many of our soldiers have to learn to live with permanent disability.

“These are early days for the “£100,000 For Our Heroes” campaign but we are confident that the momentum will continue to build during this hugely important milestone of 2014.”

The Wellbeing Centre planned for Phoenix House is set to include specialist sport facilities including a wheelchair basketball court and archery range, along with space for a theatre and arts activities.