WELDMAR Hospicecare has launched an urgent fundraising appeal following a dramatic drop in donations amid the coronavirus crisis.

The charity requires £18,000 a day to function but since the outbreak have raised on average less than 10% of that figure.

Weldmar have had to close all 26 of their shops in the local area and along with all their fundraising events being cancelled until the end of May at the earliest, this has deprived them of the vast majority of their usual income.

The Dorset-based charity, who provide end of life care for over 2,800 patients, rely on the support of the local community for 79% of their funds, the other 21% contributed by the NHS.

Dr Karen Steadman, Medical Director at Weldmar, has written a plea to the charity's supporters, asking them to donate so the organisation can continue to operate in the current environment.

Dr Steadman said: "COVID-19 has come out of nowhere and the impact that it is having on our charity is frightening.

"Our doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who make Weldmar who we are, are continuing to work right on the front line throughout this pandemic. We are caring for those very patients who are most at risk and vulnerable and this unprecedented demand is only going to increase, along with the added complexities that come with the coronavirus.

“Right now, I am very concerned. We know that over the coming days and weeks, we are going to have to change how we provide our care, to ensure we can continue to help as many people in our community as possible. However, I need those decisions to be based on what is right for the patient, not on whether we can afford it.

“In time, things will hopefully get back to normal. But our patients don’t have time, they need our help right now."

To make a donation or for more information, visit www.weld-hospice.org.