THE amazing work done by St Luke’s Hospice is clear. Anyone who has had a loved one cared for there knows all too well the hospice is a necessity, not just a nicety.

Yet despite being in more demand than ever to help people through terminal illness with dignity and comfort, the hospice is going into its 20th year fighting to stay afloat.

Donations are so far down because of the economic climate, it is battling to maintain its wide range of services.

Everyone involved in the hospice, from the fundraisers and volunteers to the nurses who care for the patients, gives all they can.

Running costs are huge, at just under £3million this year.

Donations were down by about £100,000 last year, meaning the hospice went into the current financial year with a £100,000 deficit, while having to increase this year’s budget to cater for increased demand.

This means more fundraising is needed as well as extra support from the public.

Marilyn De Battista, head of revenue services at the hospice said: “It’s a big mountain to climb.”

It employs a small fundraising team which is responsible, together with volunteers, for raising 23 per cent of income.

Mrs De Battista said: “I have been with the hospice for 12 years and seen immense growth in the services we offer and number of people we support.

“The hospice’s commitment to providing an essential, quality care service to the local community is paramount throughout our organisation.

“In the year ending 2009, the number of people coming to the hospice for help rose by 31 per cent on the previous year, while donations were down by 21 per cent.

“This is a very worrying trend that does not bode well for our future. It is unfortunate, if understandable given the current economic climate, that during our special year of celebrations, we are also facing fundraising problems.

“We have a varied programme of fundraising events and incentives to attract financial support in fun, social and challenging ways, which aims to make supporting the hospice attractive to as many people as possible.

“In order to avoid the hospice having to reduce services, it is vital the public support our fundraising efforts.”

St Luke’s was created by Trudy Westmore Cox, 73, of Wickford, who wanted to build the hospice after 26 years working as a district nurse.

It was in 1983 when she became aware of a gap in the care for terminally ill people across Basildon and Thurrock.

Trudy, now patron of the hospice, believed something had to be done after her duties as a nurse saw her encounter a man whimpering like an animal in his home because he was in so much pain. She also watched as a mother, dying of cancer, was burdened by the guilt of being unable to care for her children at Christmas, and the worry of what would happen to them when she died.

Trudy believes the hospice was built on miracles and it took her seven years of hard work, organising a committee of helpers to raise the money to start St Luke’s.

At one point, she and the founding committee members even remortaged their own homes to cover a shortfall in funding.

One of the most memorable VIP visits to St Luke’s was that by Diana, Princess of Wales, who came in 1990.

Trudy said: “I remember prior to her visit the hospice had to go through a rigorous security process, so much so that on the day I was personally struck by how relaxed and friendly Diana was."