EVERYONE counts. We are appealing to each and every one of you to help secure one of our most vital local charities – by giving just £1.

If every man, woman and child in north Kent can spare one pound for the Ellenor Lions Hospices, together we will be well on the way to securing its services for current and future generations.

The hospice has said it will need to cut care if it does not receive a boost in funding in the next few months.

It needs £200,000 to ensure it can continue providing the same level of service to its patients – and this is where you can help.

With more than 180,000 people living in Gravesham and Dartford, and thousands more working across the boroughs, each and every one of you could help to smash this vital target.

As part of our Everyone Counts campaign, the Messenger is appealing to you all to make a difference by donating just £1 today.

Your kindness could make all the difference to a patient being cared for or to their families who emotionally rely on the charity’s support.

The funding shortfall materialised after the level of donations the charity receives dropped, with some big businesses pulling their financial support in response to the credit crunch.

Chief executive Carol Stone said: “We are reviewing spending but as most goes on paying the salaries of care staff, it is difficult to do a lot without reducing care.

“We do not want patients to suffer and we do not want to alarm people. We are hopeful we won’t have to withdraw services. It’s really helpful if people can give what they can and even a £1 donation can really make a difference.”

It takes £13,402.74 a day to keep the charity running, providing care at home and in the hospice, respite care, complementary therapies, counselling and bereavement support. It employs more than 200 people and has more than 800 volunteers working from its bases in Dartford and Gravesend.

You can make a difference by donating £1 today. Just pop it in a designated collection box or post it to us at the Gravesend Messenger, 7 High Street, Gravesend, DA11 0BQ. It’s that simple and everyone really does count.