ON behalf of everyone at St Margaret’s Hospice, I would like to wish all your readers a happy and healthy new year.

Many of us will be starting 2019 with exciting plans and looking forward to fun times. These plans can quickly be turned upside down if we, or someone close to us, are diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.

Every day, our dedicated staff and volunteers help hundreds of people across the county who have received this devastating news to live as well as possible and make each day count.

As a Somerset charity, we couldn’t do this without the amazing support of our local community. After NHS funding, we need to raise over £9.5m each year to continue providing our care.

We are so grateful to everyone in Somerset who has supported us so generously over the past year, whether through regular giving, responding to our appeals, leaving a gift in their will, taking part in our events, playing our Weekly Prize Draw, donating to and buying from our shops, or organising their own wonderful variety of fundraising activities.

And I’m in awe of the 1,200 volunteers who give their time and skills in so many ways to help us achieve our mission of caring for people facing any life-limiting illness.

With your help, we can be there for the people and families who will need us in the coming year. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support.

ANN LEE

Chief executive

St Margaret’s Hospice