A HOSPICE has appealed to north Essex residents to step forward and support its new 36 hour appeal as it looks to raise £202,000 to continue its vital services.

The appeal comes after St Helena Hospice has been negatively impacted by the cost of living crisis, with rising food prices and utility costs straining its vital services.

The 36 hour appeal will run from February 18 to 20 during which time all donations made to the hospice will be doubled as it seeks to continue its end-of-life care and bereavement support.

Last year, the hospice supported more than 4,100 people for the first time with about 90 per cent of service users being supported in their own homes across Colchester and Tendring.

The charity has exciting plans to extend its reach this year, hoping to support more patients and families who are facing incurable illness and bereavement.

The hospice is looking for people to sign up to be a hospice champion.

The position holder will reach out to family, friends and a network of followers, to help them garner donations over the urgent 36 hour period.

Lizzi Hollis, head of fundraising at St Helena Hopsice, said: “Right now, we urgently need the support of our community. The cost of living crisis is impacting our services, which are in demand more than ever as the NHS faces pressures and turns to us for support.

“Without you, we cannot continue to provide vital and essential care to the growing number of patients and families who desperately need it.

“By supporting our 36 hour appeal and becoming a hospice champion you will be making such a difference, and for 36 hours all the money raised will have double the impact as all donations made via our matched funding pages will be doubled thanks to generous funders.

“All you need to do is sign up and we will be in touch with everything you need to know to contribute to raising an amazing £202,000 to help ensure St Helena Hospice continues to be there for those who need us at the most difficult time of their lives.”

To find out more and to sign up, visit bit.ly/3RSExJ6.