The campaign attracted celebrity backing

The building of the �21m Children's Hospital for Wales, in Cardiff, will get under way on Wednesday with a turf-cutting ceremony, after a campaign involving hundreds of fund-raisers across Wales and beyond.

Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt, and Chairman of the Trustees of the Noah's Ark Appeal Lyn Jones will cut the first piece of turf outside the existing children's unit at the University Hospital of Wales.

The first 65-bed phase of the hospital is due to be completed by December 2004.

It's a dream for the people involved and we are grateful to the people of Wales for their support Lyn Jones, Noah's Ark Appeal

The building will be on a green field site next to the existing children's facilities and is due to house three child-friendly wards, including a specialist cancer ward, family accommodation, a play area and a health information centre.

The first phase of the project will cost around �7m with the Noah's Ark Appeal raising �4m and a �3.25 million investment from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Noah's Ark appeal has been extended by a further �1.5m to raise extra money to cover the cost of equipment for the hospital.

Lyn Jones of the Noah's Ark Appeal, said: "The beginning of the building of the hospital is a proud moment for the trustees of the appeal.

The design for the Children's Hospital for Wales

"Many people have been working towards this moment for 12 years, when the idea of a children's hospital first began.

"It's a dream for the people involved and we are grateful to the people of Wales for their support."

The Noah's Ark Appeal was set up two years ago to raise money for a specialist children's hospital which would provide all the services currently found across several hospitals in the Cardiff area.

A further �15m must be raised before the second and final phase of the hospital is completed.

The three-year hospital fundraising appeal attracted considerable support from the public and from celebrity fundraisers.

In May 2002, a walk around Wales by former cricket star Ian Botham raised around �1m, as well as attracting the support of Welsh actress Catherine Zeta Jones and singer Charlotte Church.

And in October 2002, singer Darren Day handed over a cheque for �30,000, raised by taking part in a jungle celebrity survivor TV show, to the appeal.