THE Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham is to reopen two of the four beds which it closed last April in the face of a half million pound budget shortfall. But the good news, resulting from the charity's Living Appeal, is tempered by the reality of the ongoing struggle to raise more than £4 million each year to fund the hospice services. Tuesday saw the launch of the second phase of the Living Appeal - the hospice's invitation to the local community to help keep the additional beds and the rest of the hospice's services going. At the launch, a young cancer patient who is to be married at the hospice tomorrow (Saturday) spoke movingly of what the service had meant to her. And it was stressed that the effect of closing four of the 18 beds should not be under-estimated. "A waiting list is not good news if you are sick or in pain or if you have become very frail," said director of nursing Clodagh Sowton. The hospice, which is always around 90 per cent full, has expanded its community team to enable more people to be helped at home. "Opening these two beds is absolutely vital to support the range of care we can offer our patients and their families," said Mrs Sowton. "Our expanded community team has really helped support patients and their families at home, but there are always times that a patient needs to come into the hospice. "Re-opening two of the beds will reduce the time the patients currently have to wait to come into the hospice. We expect to be able to support an additional 200 patients, families and carers each year, who we are currently unable to support due to reduced beds. Please do support this important stage of the Living Appeal." The two beds will be restored from August, at an annual cost of £250,000. But opening of the remaining two is hugely dependent on the outcome of the second appeal. The first phase followed a difficult year in which legacies took a downturn and donations were diverted to other causes, including the tsunami appeal. Hospice chief executive Sarah Brocklebank told those at the launch, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Farnham, David and Ann Attfield that, thanks to the public response, the charity finished this year with good income figures. "We have been encouraged by the public's response to the Living Appeal and would like to thank those who have donated so generously. "Your response has made a huge difference and now gives us a platform to plan to reopen two beds. But we can only keep them open – and the rest of our services going - with the public's continued support." Every day the service supports more than 100 patients and carers in their own homes, but it costs a staggering £10,000 a day, with only 16 per cent funding from the NHS. It was revealed that, as part of strong cost controls, no member of staff received a pay rise and the in patient team dropped a shift a month to further reduce costs. Sarah Brocklebank explained that the best way to get behind the appeal was by setting up regular standing orders or payroll giving, both tax effective methods of giving which gave the hospice some security of income. "When you get only 16 per cent of your income guaranteed at the start of the year, that is a frightening way to run our organisation," she pointed out. Dr Lorraine Linton, a GP and trustee of the hospice, said she was delighted that beds were reopening, as on occasions she had been unable to get patients in that she knew would have benefitted. Tony Denning, whose wife, Lucy, died in the Phyllis Tuckwell, having received in-patient and day hospice care, along with community nursing help at home, added his voice to the appeal. He pointed to the hospice's catchment of 600,000 people, of whom - according to government statistics - a third are potential cancer sufferers who might one day need the hospice service. "Looked at like that, 18 beds is not many." Sally Caulfield, the young mother who is to be married this weekend, explained that she couldn't have managed without the hospice, who had helped not only herself, but her children and everyone else concerned. "Everything is laid on for you, you don't even have to think about it. You ring a bell, somebody is there for you, to help you without being in your face, being just their natural selves." The simplest things, like a massage to help you sleep, were the biggest things, she said, adding that it would mean so much to her to know that other people will enjoy the same accessibility. "They are such a wonderful team, I can't thank them enough. You couldn't do it on your own." "They also deal with the carers, who also have a tough life," said Sally's partner Craig Tinsley. "They make you feel better about yourself, they care about you. it makes a difference." All of the charity's 10 shops are participating in the appeal and the public can either visit one of the shops, the hospice, send donations by post, go on line to http://www.livingappeal.org.uk">www.livingappeal.org.uk or call 01252 729400.