SUPPORTERS are being urged to throw a financial lifeline to a south Essex hospice to help pay for its work in the coming year.

As staff at St Luke’s, in Basildon, launch their annual festive envelope appeal, they are keeping their fingers crossed the campaign will bring in a much-needed boost.

Over the coming week, 128,000 envelopes will be delivered to homes across Basildon and Thurrock via the Echo’s sister papers, the Thurrock Gazette and the Basildon and Wickford Recorder.

Householders are being asked to put as much cash as they can spare in the envelopes and send them to the hospice.

The hospice, which needs to raise £3million a year to keep going, is described as an “extraordinary place for ordinary people”.

But over the past year, donations have dropped to an alarming level and the hospice has been forced to draw on its small pool of reserves.

Marilyn Debattista, head of revenue services at the hospice, said: “While hospice income has been very inconsistent, our costs have been consistent in continually rising.

“It is only through the sheer generosity and kindness of our local community that we can hope to hit our target this year.’’ St Luke’s provides care and support at the hospice, as well as in patients’ homes and its information resource centre, in Corringham.

Marilyn is asking people to send in whatever they can spare.

She explained: “The current economic climate is proving to be very difficult for St Luke’s.

“It is only with public support that St Luke’s will continue to thrive and provide a service we can all be proud of.”

Donations to the appeal can also be made direct to the hospice by debit or credit card, on 01268 524973 or visit www.stlukeshospice.com