The Snowdogs and Snowpups have been unleashed onto the streets of Ashford and now the final pair of pups have been painted ready for display. The designs have seen a partnership between two local services, Motorline Group and Ashford College, that are both sponsors of a giant Snowdog each; but the final pups for the 55-strong pack of dogs are Motorline Group’s very own smaller Snowpups.
We’re so excited to have been a part of the Snowdogs project! We’ve really enjoyed being involved with the Snowdogs trail and we hope that everybody loves seeing these pups popping up at the Motorline dealerships.
Kaya and Robyn, Ashford College students
Motorline Group held a creative competition for their customers to design a Snowpup and these designs have been translated on to the Snowpups by Kaya Cook and Robyn Bailey, Year 2 students from Ashford College.
The Motorline design competition took the form of two categories, one for under 12s and one for over 12s. The two lucky winners were Katie (8), who created Spotty, a half Labrador and half Dalmatian in vibrant yellow with blue spots all over, a red nose and very sensitive ears, and Jazmin (15), who designed Snoop Doug, inspired by magical colours and galaxy-themed. Snoop Doug is very fond of catching bubbles and, of course, being stroked.
Kaya and Robyn said, “We’re so excited to have been a part of the Snowdogs project! We really appreciate the opportunity to interpret and paint the pups. Spotty is such a happy, bright pup and we love the galaxy concept behind Snoop Doug. We’ve really enjoyed being involved with the Snowdogs trail and we hope that everybody loves seeing these pups popping up at the Motorline dealerships.”
After their glamourous makeover, Spotty and Snoop Doug’s new kennel homes will now be part of the Motorline family at their six Ashford-based car dealerships.
You can catch these beautifully painted pups at Motorline Toyota, Nissan, Peugeot, Hyundai, Dacia and Renault for the duration of the Snowdogs trail until 18 November 2018.
Glen Obee, Chairman of Motorline, said “We are thrilled to be involved in Ashford Snowdogs as the Farewell Weekend and Auction Partner. This project links all areas of our community and we wanted to ask young, inspiring artists to translate our customers’ designs on to our not so little Snowpups. We’re incredibly grateful to Katie and Jazmin for their creative inspirations, and to Robyn and Kaya for their amazing painting skills in translating these designs on to the Snowpups.”
Snowdogs Discover Ashford is a trail of Snowdog sculptures based on the story of The Snowman and The Snowdog. The trail features 35 Snowdogs designed by local artists and sponsored by local businesses, together with 19 Snowpups designed and decorated by 19 local schools. Pilgrims Hospices have their own pup, Snowy. The sculptures are dotted around the borough for 10 weeks until 18 November 2018. At the end of the project, the large Snowdogs will be auctioned by Pilgrims Hospices; Snowpups will be returned to the schools as a treasured keepsake.
Motorline Group is the project’s Farewell Weekend and Auction Partner and they are kindly sponsoring the two high profile events, which will raise funds and awareness of the work of Pilgrims Hospices.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims’ free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
19th September 2018
Macknade Fine Foods complete second Ragnar Relay challenge for Pilgrims
A team from Macknade Fine Foods have once again signed up for the inaugural Ragnar White Cliffs Relay on 22 and 23 September 2018 – a 170-mile non-stop running relay starting in Sittingbourne, travelling through Faversham and finishing in Brighton 24 hours later. The team are raising money for local charity Pilgrims Hospices that provides specialist care to patients and their families in east Kent.
The Macknade team is made up of 10 runners who are taking it in turns to run the entire distance, supported by two vehicles kindly provided by Practical Car & Van Rental in Sittingbourne. Legs range between three and eight miles, and some runners will be running a total distance of over 21 miles in the 24-hour period. Last year, they raised more than £4,000 by completing the Ragnar Relay for Pilgrims.
This year, Macknade’s acclaimed Selling Road Food Hall is also the location of Ragnar’s ‘Exchange Two’, where runners starting the race in Sittingbourne are handing over their batons to the runners completing leg two. Macknade will be selling food and drink out on the Deck from 8.30am for anyone coming along to support the Macknade relay team, or the other 125+ teams taking part.
Macknade at Ragnar Relay 2017
Macknade at Ragnar Relay 2017
Macknade at Ragnar Relay 2017
Rosie Collins, Marketing Manager at Macknade Fine Foods, is the Team Captain for this year’s Ragnar Relay. She commented, “Once again, we want to take the opportunity to use the challenge of Ragnar to raise money for a great cause. Many of us have been touched personally by the work of Pilgrims Hospices and it is an organisation we have enormous respect for. We wanted to give something back and make it count. Ragnar is a unique challenge that will be tackled with energy, fortitude and, of course, good humour; three values that we recognise as equally critical for the amazing team at Pilgrims Hospices.”
Many of us have been touched personally by the work of Pilgrims Hospices and it is an organisation we have enormous respect for. We wanted to give something back and make it count.
Rosie Collins, Marketing Manager at Macknade Fine Foods
The team are already receiving great support. Ian Smith, Managing Director at Practical Car & Van Rental Sittingbourne, commented, “We are proud to be supporting the Macknade team for the second year running. They are raising money for an incredible charity with staff who deliver the best care possible to all their patients. We wish the Macknade team all the best in this gruelling challenge!”
Lydia Todd, Community Fundraising Officer at Pilgrims Hospices, added, “We are delighted that Macknade Fine Foods are raising money for Pilgrims Hospices by taking on the almighty challenge of the Ragnar Relay across the weekend of 22 – 23 September. The sponsorship they raise will go towards providing specialist care and support, free of charge, to patients across east Kent who are living with an incurable illness. Macknade Fine Foods have been fantastic supporters of Pilgrims for many years and we can’t wait to support them in their journey from Sittingbourne to Brighton!”
The Macknade team at their charity quiz night
On Thursday 6 September, the team at Macknade kick-started their fundraising with a charity quiz night in-store. This raised more than £150 on the night and this is the first step in achieving their fundraising target of £1,000. The team would like to invite all customers, suppliers, and anyone else who wishes to donate to Pilgrims Hospices, to sponsor them at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MacknadeFineFoods.
If you and your colleagues would like to find out more about how you can support Pilgrims Hospices and raise vital funds for local hospice care then our fundraising team would love to hear from you.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims’ free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
18th September 2018
Miles & Barr achieve fantastic fundraising for Pilgrims at Broadstairs Folk Week
After the success of last year’s Broadstairs Folk Week fundraising, local estate agents Miles & Barr’s Broadstairs team held a bumper raffle at this years’ event and raised £1,081.93 to support Pilgrims Hospices in providing local hospice care.
The team also handed out mini footballs and windmills to passers-by, encouraging them to make a donations to the charity. The raffle was drawn on the final day by Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager, who was sporting her Thanet 5k Colour Run outfit complete with multi-coloured wig.
I’d like to thank the whole team at Miles & Barr for their amazing continuous support to our charity. The funds they’ve been raised over the years have been incredible and have helped support many hours of palliative care.
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager
Karen said, “I’d like to thank the whole team at Miles & Barr for their amazing continuous support to our charity. The funds they’ve raised over the years have been incredible and have helped support many hours of palliative care. I would also like to give a special mention to Steve Cort who is the main driving force behind all the team’s fundraising events, come rain or shine. There really is no better gift than the gift of care. Thank you all so very much.”
Steve Cort and Dan Woodward, Broadstairs Branch Manager, were joined by Stuart Barr and Nigel Pope when they presented the cheque to the Pilgrims Hospices team. Community nurses Sarah Brown, Louise Jarman, Amanda Larkin and Anna Bitelli-Charles joined Caroline Dixon, Community Fundraising Officer, in accepting the wonderful donation.
Caroline said, “It was lovely to welcome the team from Miles & Barr to the hospice; we’re so lucky to have such wonderful support from them.”
Want to get colourful for Pilgrims? Visit pilgrimshospices.org/colourrun to sign up now to dash through bright paint clouds and get covered in colour in aid of local hospice care. Register by 14 October 2018; £20 for adults and £15 for under 11s.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims’ free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
17th September 2018
Shop window is dedicated to Pilgrims nurse Jo
The Alice in Wonderland window display at Pilgrims Hospices’ shop on the High Street, Broadstairs was dedicated to the memory of Pilgrims nurse Jo Leadbeater, by her friend and Pilgrims volunteer Charlie Euden.
Jo was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in July last year. The mother of five and step mum of two was just 54 when she passed way in the care of Pilgrims Hospices early this year.
Charlie has been dressing the windows every Friday at the Broadstairs shop for a number of years. Jenny Byrne, Pilgrims Shop Manager, said: “Charlie has a real eye for detail and creates some very imaginative displays.
“Her display won our shop the Best Dressed Shop Window during the Dickens Week this year, and her fabulous Alice in Wonderland windows are a fitting tribute to her close friend and former Pilgrims nurse Jo.”
Charlie has a real eye for detail and creates some very imaginative displays.
Jenny Byrne, Pilgrims Hospices shop manager
Charlie said: “I have always been a regular shopper in Pilgrims stores. I was asked by a member of staff if I’d like to volunteer about eight years ago. I started by selecting the toys for the window displays and have gone on to being more adventurous with some of the beautiful items that are generously donated to our shop.
“Myself and fellow volunteers are all local and just want to do something to help support end-of-life care in our area. My mum was cared for at the Thanet hospice two years ago, which gave me first-hand experience of the amazing services they provide.
Jo was a good friend, I thought it would be a nice way to honour her memory and remember what she gave to others.
Charlie
“Jo was a good friend and I thought it would be a nice way to honour her memory and remember what she gave to others.”
In memory of Jo Leadbeater
If you’d like to find out more about Pilgrims Hospices shops or how to become a shop volunteer, visit pilgrimshospices.org/shops.
Each year Pilgrims supports hundreds of local people coping with a life limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from end of life care given on its wards, to its Wellbeing and Social Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
14th September 2018
Lisa and Oliver shine bright for Pilgrims at A Night to Shine
Lisa Rose (39) from Hawkinge near Folkestone will take on a 6-mile sponsored walk with her son, Oliver (8), as part of A Night to Shine on Saturday 22 September in Canterbury. They will walk in memory of Lisa’s mum, Rosemary Gatehouse, who was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury in July 2018. Here, Lisa shares why it’s important for the family to give back to Pilgrims and raise vital funds and awareness for local hospice care.
Rosemary and Oliver
Mum lived with my dad, James, her husband of 42 years, in Whitfield near Dover. Dad built the house for her in 1976 and this is where they raised my brother, Mark, and I.
Later in life, Mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer. In June 2018 she spent two weeks in hospital; despite the medical teams’ best efforts, we were told that treatment for Mum’s cancer was no longer an option. She was referred to Pilgrims so she could receive the care she needed in her last months. As a family we were devastated by the news, but we focused on making sure that Mum was as comfortable as possible.
Just walking on to the hospice ward we felt that this was where Mum needed to be. The care she received from Pilgrims was of the highest quality; she was made comfortable, and as her family we were supported every step of the way by the hospice staff. Nothing was too much trouble for them. During the most devastating time of my life, the staff at the Canterbury hospice made it just that little bit easier to bear; I really don’t know what our family would have done without them or the hospice facilities available.
Pilgrims gave our family time to say and do all the things we needed to. That’s something money can’t buy, and we will be forever thankful to the staff at Pilgrims for the quality time they gave us as a family with our mum, wife and nanna.
Lisa
After Mum died, I felt that saying thank you wasn’t enough; I wanted to give back to Pilgrims as they are a charity so reliant on financial support to be able to do their vital work. Oliver and I will walk 6 miles in the A Night to Shine event on 22 September in Canterbury. We’ve encouraged some close friends to walk with us too; we’ll be the Walking BUDdys team (my mum was affectionately known as Bud by family and close friends). So many people and families need Pilgrims’ support, so if I can raise just a small amount of money to help with that I will be happy, and I know my mum would be proud!
My mum meant the world to me; she was a very proud lady and I loved the absolute bones of her. During the last weeks of her life I’d watched her fade into a shadow of who she was, which made her feel sad and helpless. I felt that way, too. At the hospice Mum was given control back and that meant so much to us all; she had dignity again. Pilgrims gave our family time to say and do all the things we needed to. Mum had the opportunity to see Oliver, her grandson, one last time while she was still aware of what was going on and say all the things she wanted to say to him. He, in turn, was given a lasting memory of his nanny looking reasonably well and a message so full of love that he could never forget he really was ‘the light of her life’. That’s something money can’t buy, and we will be forever thankful to the staff at Pilgrims for the quality time they gave us as a family with our mum, wife and nanna.
You can sponsor Lisa and Oliver by visiting their JustGiving page.
If you’re feeling inspired and would like to follow in their footsteps, sign up now for A Night to Shine in Ashford, Broadstairs or Canterbury. Choose a 3 or 6-mile sponsored walk; entry is £15 for adults and £12 for under 18s, under 3s go free. Entry includes a t-shirt, torch, medal and memory lantern for you to personalise with your own message or design.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims’ free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
Pilgrims nurses described as ‘angels on earth’
Faversham-based law firm Tassells Solicitors continue to remember their much-loved friend and colleague, Candy Hogben, with an annual family fun day in aid of Pilgrims Hospices.
This year’s event, held at The Vaults Cask and Kitchen in Faversham, raised a fantastic £954.61, for local hospice care. Each year the team receive lots of support from Faversham-based businesses, friends and family to make it a success.
Candy passed away in 2014 at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury. Described as a ‘much-loved and respected colleague who was liked by everyone who met her’, Candy’s colleagues have honoured her memory by fundraising for the charity that supported her and her family whilst she was living with cancer.
Candy’s husband, Martin, said: “I can’t thank the team at Pilgrims Hospices enough for everything they did to make Candy’s last few days bearable for her and our family.”
Tassells Solicitors remember much-loved friend and colleague, Candy Hogben
Since 2015 the team has raised an incredible £4,239.14 for local hospice care in east Kent. Their support enables Pilgrims to deliver specialist care and support for the next family who need us.
Practice Manager, Gemma Stebbeds, said: “I experienced first-hand what an incredible place Pilgrims Hospices is. I am in awe of the incredible care the team give patients and can only describe the care team as ‘angels on earth.’
Community Fundraising Manager, Leila Ilkhan, went along to meet the Tassells team and said: “We are delighted to receive this wonderful support from the team at Tassells Solicitors year after year. It is clear that Candy was a much-loved friend, colleague, wife and mother and it is lovely to see vital funds are raised in her memory.”
Gemma added: “We will continue to raise money for Pilgrims Hospices because everyone should be given the chance to receive the incredible care and support Candy received when they need it.”
If you and your colleagues would like to find out more about how you can support Pilgrims Hospices and raise vital funds for local hospice care then our fundraising team would love to hear from you.
Each year Pilgrims supports hundreds of local people coping with a life limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from end of life care given on its wards, to its Wellbeing and Social Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
