The Times & Star has joined forces with the hospital's league of friends, Ewanrigg Local Trust and Ewanrigg and Netherton Tenants' and Residents' Association to tell health bosses "hands off our hospital".
Organisers of the Save Our Beds campaign want everyone to tell government chiefs that Maryport demands and deserves a fully operational community hospital.
A petition has been launched and hundreds of people demonstrated outside Victoria Cottage Hospital on Ewanrigg Road on Wednesday.
Two early ideas mooted would see all beds removed from cottage hospitals including Maryport and an expansion of inpatient services at units including Workington and Cockermouth.
The other would see all cottage hospital inpatient facilities closed.
The Success Regime has said community hospitals would still play a key part, but it wants to review how it uses them.
Removing all inpatient beds from cottage hospitals would require significant investment in community care, focused on keeping people out of hospital, it said.
Cottage hospitals would become community care hubs focusing on outpatient appointments.
Around 500 patients are admitted to Maryport a year. The Success Regime said those patients would be admitted to Keswick, Cockermouth or Workington.
Campaign leaders are currently drawing up plans for the coming weeks to make Maryport's voice heard.
And the campaign already has the backing of Workington MP Sue Hayman.
Mrs Hayman said: "I know how important the hospital in Maryport is and I will support this campaign in any way I can."
She added that she would be meeting Sir Neil McKay next week.
She said: "You can be sure I will be explaining the concerns of residents in this area."
At the demonstration on Wednesday, ribbons were tied to the hospital's railings as a display of the strength of feeling.
Trust chairwoman Sharon Barnes has urged people to get a ribbon, write their names on them and tie them to the railings.
T-shirts have also been printed for anyone who wishes to show their support. These are available at West Lakes Embroidery.
Anyone needing help with access to the internet can call into Ewanrigg Community Centre, where the trust and association are also offering to help people put together their letters and the petition can be signed. The trust has also offered to post or deliver letters for residents.
You can sign the petition on our website at www.timesandstar.co.uk
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