THE Iain Rennie Hospice at Home is a registered charity which offers specialist nursing care, support and advice for patients with cancer and other life limiting illnesses in their own homes, writes appeals director Robert Breakwell.

The Hospice at Home also aims to support patients' families during both the illness and the bereavement period.

The Iain Rennie Hospice at Home is marking its 20th anniversary during 2005 and celebrating "20 Years of Caring".

This is a year in which we have paused to look back, but have also taken the opportunity to think clearly about our future.

Although many things have changed over the last two decades, we are also proud that the values and beliefs that inspired the foundation of our Hospice at Home service are still as strong today.

Moira Rennie, our president and wife of our first patient, Iain, after whom our organisation is named, has written:"Sometimes I find it difficult to believe that nearly 20 years have passed since Iain came home from hospital to spend the last weeks of his illness with his family and friends. At that time, we knew that no more hospital treatment was to be given and therefore we chose to come home. We just opted for the safety and privacy of our own world.

"With hindsight, our decision seems almost naive, yet with our GP's support the course of events which followed led directly to the formation of The Iain Rennie Hospice at Home.

"The five nurses who supported us as a family Iain, myself and our two young boys were quite remarkable.

"Together with our doctor and district nurse they helped me to fulfil my overwhelming need to protect Iain and make it possible for the boys to have their dad at home. I remember those nurses not only as wonderfully caring individuals but also as highly trained professionals.

"Over the years, many people who have had contact with the Iain Rennie service have quietly told me that their experiences were the same as mine.

"They speak to me of compassion, dedication, commitment and professionalism.

"This is how I know that the organisation which bears Iain's name has held true to the values which mattered in 1985 to both Iain and me and continues to extend a warm and caring hand to all those who need help today.

"Whilst our values have remained the same, much else has changed over 20 years.

"The professionalism of the nurses has been underpinned by sound administration and imaginative fundraising delivered by dedicated staff and an army of volunteers. The charity is led strongly by a board of trustees with vision and skill.

"The service has grown steadily over the years and expects to care for over 800 patients in 2005 and now employs more than 40 nurses.

"We remain committed to offering the same practical, hands-on care provided on a 24-hour on-call basis to all those who need our help in the Chilterns area.

"We expect that the need for the service will continue to grow in the years ahead."

Of course, none of this would be possible without the warm and generous support from the communities that the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home serves.

With less than 16 per cent of our income coming from the NHS we are more dependent than ever on fundraising, donations and legacies in order to maintain the service we provide free of charge to patients and their families.

A final word from Moira Rennie: "2005 is the beginning of a new journey for the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home and I do hope you will come with us on the voyage so that you can play a part in our future."