A charity administrator has made a heart-felt appeal for help after revealing it is in desperate need of funds.

The Harmony Therapy Trust was set up by Dawn Cockburn, from Minster, in 2010 to help people with life-altering illnesses such as cancer.

Their patients are referred to them by health professionals including GPs, hospitals and Macmillan nurses for free therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, reiki and reflexology.

Since it was started, the charity has grown from having a handful of clients in Swale to more than 200 across the county and has now reached the stage where it is having to put referrals on hold.

The trust budgets £120 for treatments for each patient. That, added to running costs of their base in Victoria Street, Sheerness, quickly eats into their funds.

Administrator Julie Murby, 57, says in a way they have been a victim of their own success as they are getting people from as far away as Ramsgate, Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells.

“This appeal comes from the bottom of my heart,” she said.

“The situation is crucial regarding funds and we are really struggling at the moment. We are getting at least three referrals every day but we are unable to accept any more until we accumulate more money to pay for treatments.

“I have heard so many testimonials from patients, some have maybe only weeks to live, as to how much better they feel after receiving therapies.

“What a tragedy it would be if these wonderful people, who have had so much to cope with, were unable to receive the benefits of such wonderful treatments.”

Miss Murby is hoping people will be able to help by donating money or by coming up with ideas for fundraising as she said every little helps and it is an urgent situation.

There will be a quiz night to boost funds at Queenborough Social Club, North Road, Queenborough, on Saturday, October 19, from 7pm. Tickets are £4 each.

Miss Murby is also looking for volunteers to join her in a fundraising abseil – something she and other team members did earlier this year.

• To book the quiz or found out more about the abseil, phone 01795 228949 or 07791 071810.