THE CHARITY that runs Wheatfields Hospice has launched its second urgent fundraising appeal of 2020.

Sue Ryder is currently experiencing a £2 million a month shortfall due to the impact of the coronavirus, while its doctors and nurses continue to provide vital end-of-life care.

The charity is urging the people of Leeds to get behind its new fundraiser, We Can’t Stop, to ensure hospices like Wheatfields can keep going.

Hospice Director for Wheatfields Elaine Hill said: “Coronavirus has hit us hard. We received a wonderful response from our supporters to our emergency appeal earlier in the year.

“This, paired with the emergency funding that we received from the Government, covered our funding shortfall until the end of June.

“Unfortunately however, our struggle continues. Our fundraising events remain cancelled for the rest of this year and our high street shops have now closed for a second time.

“None of us expected this pandemic to go on for so long and clearly a monthly shortfall of £2 million is unsustainable for any charity, which is why we need to ask the public to help us. Wheatfields is playing a vital part in the coronavirus effort but in order to keep our services running through the winter and beyond we urgently need to secure more funding now.”

To support the charity visit sueryder.org/winterappeal20.