Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell helped put the finishing touches to the foundations of the new children's centre being built at Worthing Hospital.
As the last piece of shuttering was put into place, she urged people to help raise the last £350,000 needed to pay for the project.
She said: "Five thousand children a year will benefit from care and treatment here, so we all have a responsibility to ensure it goes ahead.
"We should all join in the fund-raising push."
The centre, which is costing £1.3 million to built, is scheduled to open early next year.
Children with chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes will be among those treated at the new centre.
The centre's three major sponsors are are Worthing and Southlands NHS Trust, Worthing Priority Care NHS Trust and the League of Friends of Worthing Hospitals.
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