My name is Terry and I’m a patient at Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell. I’m writing to you because I want to let you know about something that’s really important to me. The hospice has been a godsend during my recent illness, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, my bed at the hospice might not be here soon.

I’m 77 years old now, but up until recently I was still enjoying working. I’ve always been active, and a keen runner – I’ve even run the London Marathon twice – so it came as a huge shock that things could change so quickly for me. Devastating news after a chest x-ray confirmed that I had lung cancer and a short time later I found myself here at the hospice.

To be honest, I didn’t really know what they did here, like most people I didn’t think about it. But when I needed it, when I was feeling frightened and disturbed, this beautiful place had a bed for me and it felt like a gift. I feel so lucky to be receiving such dedicated and compassionate care, I honestly cannot believe what the wonderful people here have done to make my last days so complete. In my eyes, the nurses and doctors are angels in disguise. My time might be short now, but being here has brought me peace, and my wish is that everyone who needs it can get the care they deserve, the unbelievable care that I’ve experienced here.

They tell me that although they managed to open extra beds like mine last year, which have been constantly needed throughout the coronavirus crisis, these beds are now under threat. They’ll explain more to you later, but I want to say that if my bed had not been here for me, I don’t know what I would have done.

So, I’m asking you as a supporter to help them keep my bed open, so people like me can continue to experience this wonderful care and feel safe at the end of our lives. I’d be devastated if my bed closed, please give whatever you can. Thank you,

As Terry said, our beds are now under threat. With the closure of our shops, only two thirds of which have now reopened, and with limited fundraising opportunities, we are struggling to meet our funding needs. We have been grateful for financial support through Government initiatives, without which the situation would have been incredibly bleak, but with these now coming to a close and with our fundraising ability still very limited, we now face the real possibility that we might need to close the beds we fundraised so hard to open. Beds that have been full and needed throughout the pandemic.

We know that lockdown has been tough for many people, so we have resisted asking our community for support until we felt we really needed to. Unfortunately, that time has now come. Although many of you have donated without being asked, and we are so grateful for your thoughtfulness and generosity, our beds are now at risk of closure and we must ask you to please help keep Terry’s bed open.