FOR more than two decades the Star and our readers have played a big part in the history of Willowbrook Hospice.

The vision in the early 90s to create a place to support patients and their relatives suffering from the effects of cancer and other awful illnesses was followed by a fundraising campaign that amassed £1.8m and led to the hospice’s creation on Portico Lane in 1997.

Much of this was down to the sterling efforts of you and the endeavours of an incredible steering committee.

Over the years Willowbrook has become a vital source of comfort for families facing up to the bleakest times of their lives.

It is a charity that is respected and loved in equal measure, a fact underlined by the generosity regularly showed to it by the people of St Helens over the years.

This week the hospice has set out its financial struggles.

It needs our help.

Hospices, like many, many organisations, charities and businesses, from all manner of sectors, are suffering from the strain of the pandemic.

Many of its normal funding streams – from charity shops, to large scale fundraising events dried up overnight after lockdown. 

The Government did step in to offer financial support support earlier in the year, but that money is now coming to an end.

Providing the expert clinical care for terminally ill patients at Willowbrook comes at a huge costs – £400,000 just for a month.

So this week our front page asks Star readers to Step up to save Willowbrook and help the hospice come through the toughest period in its history.

How can you offer support? Well, with its network of charity shops now reopening, buying goods from there or giving donations is one way.

A direct financial donation to Willowbrook is another route, as is arranging your own fundraising challenge.

And while coronavirus restrictions have led to large running or walking events being cancelled, why not devise a challenge for yourself or your family and raise funds in the process?

If you do step up, let us know and just like in the 90s we’ll champion the cause.