Today we are asking everyone in Merton and Sutton to join us in supporting a charity which for the past 25 years has done extraordinary work helping the people of this borough – St Raphael’s Hospice. None of us like to think about dying – but it comes to us all in the end. When we do think about it our imagination often conjures up images of uncontrolled pain, both physical and emotional, and fear for what the future may hold But anyone who has been to St Raphael’s Hospice, or has seen its staff at work in the community, knows that it really does not have to be like that.

Every year its highly skilled and dedicated team ensure that some 900 terminally ill people can die, either at the hospice or in their own homes, with minimum pain and maximum dignity. And the compassion, advice and support it provides to their families is beyond price.

It costs about £4,500 to care for each patient at the hospice and a whopping £4m to keep the charity running each year.

The NHS only provides a quarter of this money – it has to raise the rest through donations, legacies and a host of fundraising events.

So this year we want every person in the borough to help by give a pound.

Our campaign name is as simple as its aim – Give Your Quid.

If everyone living in Merton and Sutton gives just one pound, though of course we hope many people will want to give a lot more, by Christmas we will have raised more than £290,000.

And for every pound you give, the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross, who founded the hospice back in 1987 and run the adjacent St Anthony’s Hospital, have generously agreed that St Anthony’s Hospital will donate another pound (up to £111,000).

This is a fantastic opportunity to say a huge thank you to the 100-strong team of doctors, nurses and professionals at St Raphael’s - as well as the 400+ volunteers, and to ensure they can help even more people in the years ahead.

By donating to the appeal, you will be helping local families at the time they are most vulnerable.

Absolutely Fabulous star, June Whitfield was the first person to pop her money in our collecting box, and urged everyone to do the same.

Over the coming weeks we will take you inside the hospice to meet the staff and see the wonderful work that they do. We will also be suggesting lots of ways you can get involved in supporting the appeal, either as an individual or as an organisation. We are particular keen to get schools, clubs, scout groups, businesses and pubs and all other local groups and organisations involved in fundraising activities over the coming months.