We continue to care because of you

It's difficult to put into words how proud we are of the community around us for coming together and supporting us as you have done. It's been phenomenal. The handwritten letters and cards, the fundraisers you have started and the donations you have made in this past year - at times you really have left us speechless. We are still doing everything we can to make sure our care continues.

To have reached over £200,000 - we are beyond speechless. Thank you to each and every one of you who have contributed in any way. We called the appeal 'Make It Count' because more than anything we want our patients to keep making precious memories for as long as they can - with your help we can make each day count. We still have a little way to go until we can reopen our shops, until we can hold events like we once did and until we reach our fundraising target - so if you are able to make a donation at this time please do. Your support means the world to us

The recent coronavirus outbreak has changed our workload at the Hospice, but it certainly has not diminished.

Our team at the Hospice have been working tirelessly to ensure that we continue to be there for local people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. But this hasn't been without its challenges. Visiting to patients on our In Patient Unit has been severely restricted, which has been incredibly difficult for patients and their families, and for our team to support.

Within the Living Well Centre, we have, where we can, continued to work with people over the phone. These wellbeing calls have become longer and more difficult as lockdown continued and as our guests have become more poorly and their carers have had to take on additional care tasks without services to give them respite.

The need for bereavement support has increased and support for children and young people has been particularly important at this time. Across the Hospice the main impact we aim for is a good death for as many people as possible. Coronavirus has meant that many in our community have not experienced a good death. Death has been sudden, quick and traumatic; family have not been able to visit; family and friends have not been able to mourn properly without the ability to participate in their usual rituals. We therefore know that this team is going to be particularly busy in the months ahead.

The other impact of the pandemic has been in the loss of income. We have had to cancel all but two of our fundraising events and our community fundraising has halved. The stark reality is that we don't know what the future holds for fundraising and the money coming in is likely to stop.

What doesn't stop is the support were providing to local families affected by life-limiting conditions, living here in County Durham. And because of the high incidence of coronavirus in County Durham, we know that the need for our services is not going to diminish. The aftermath of coronavirus, with its possible effects on lung, liver and kidney function, will likely create a new cohort of people living with life-limiting illnesses. In these challenging times those affected need our help more than ever.

It is thanks to the local community that the Hospice was founded, and it is that same support that sustains it today. St Cuthbert's was a sustainable organisation before the pandemic. It will be sustainable after the pandemic. But your support today could help us to bridge the gap between a proud past and a vibrant future.

Now, more than ever we need your help to make every day count for those in County Durham who need it most so please support our 'Make it Count' Appeal.