Sunflowers in full bloom for hospice remembrance event
Pilgrims Hospices saw hundreds attend summer remembrance this weekend to share and celebrate cherished memories of loved ones.
Pilgrims Hospices was visited by around 800 people for its annual Sunflower Memory days to see beautiful sunflower plaque displays at the charity’s Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet sites. Despite a slightly damp weekend, there was still a lovely atmosphere at each event with the opportunity for friends and family to remember and celebrate their loved ones’ lives.
This sixth annual Sunflower appeal was met with enthusiasm, despite the weather, and spirits were boosted at Thanet and Ashford with the addition of a pop-up prosecco stall! Visitors shared favourite memories with the Pilgrims team in the Therapy Centres, while enjoying cool drinks, tea, and sunflower-themed cakes. So far the event has raised an incredible £35,000, thanks to the amazing generosity of Pilgrims’ supporters. This amount will support 100s of people living with a terminal illness in east Kent, and with donations continuing to come in the hospices will be able to reach many more.
Sara Scriven, Pilgrims Hospices Individual Giving Manager, said: “These Sunflower days provide a lovely atmosphere for quiet reflection, but also allow our supporters to share stories of their loved ones with those who have been through similar experiences. As well as the sunflower marker displays, we also decorated the Therapy Centres and our gardens with beautiful sunflower seedlings. They were grown by Pilgrims volunteers and The Fifth Trust, another east Kent charity that provides work experience and opportunities for adults with learning difficulties.”
We are seeing this appeal grow, year on year. We would like to thank all those who have made our remembrance days so very special. The amount raised for hospice care is just stunning and will allow us to provide the best possible support to families who need us.
Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager
All three events were delivered with the kind help of Pilgrims volunteers at the refreshments, merchandise and sunflower plant stalls. They also helped welcome visitors to find their sunflower markers and put their cherished memories and photos on our Memory Walls.
This year’s summer appeal was themed around the wonderful work the Wellbeing Practitioners at each hospice do. Pilgrims aim is to support as many people as possible, both out in the community and at the in-patient units, and the Therapy Centres are very much part of this.
Sara added: “We are seeing this appeal grow, year on year. We would like to thank all those who have made our remembrance days so very special. The amount raised for hospice care is just stunning and will allow us to provide the best possible support to families who need us. Every £30 could pay for nursing care, either on our wards or in a patient’s own home, so the funds raised at events like these are vital to the work Pilgrims Hospices does.”
The sunflower marker displays will remain in the grounds at each hospice site in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet for the next two weeks for visitors to view them.
If you still wish to take part, Pilgrims will continue to accept contributions until mid-August via www.pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers, the Supporter Relations team on 01227 782 062 or by visiting your local Pilgrims Hospices reception.
Thank you to the Westerleigh Group for their continued annual sponsorship of the Sunflower appeal, and Young’s Nurseries and Elham Valley Vineyard Garden Centre for donating seeds, pots and compost for our volunteers to grow 200 sunflowers. Also thanks to The Fifth Trust for growing 100 sunflowers for the Canterbury event; for more information on this charity visit The Fifth Trust.
Pilgrims Hospices supports hundreds of local people coping with a life-limiting illness and their families each year. They offer a range of services: from end of life care given on its wards to their Wellbeing Programme supporting people after their diagnosis to live well and stay independent.
Pilgrims new shop to join the regeneration of Margate High Street
98 – 102 High Street Margate is set to become the latest addition to Pilgrims Hospices portfolio of shops. Opening soon, the shop is currently undergoing refurbishment before it takes on a new, modern, fashionable look. The store, which anticipates opening in August, will be brimming with furniture, bric a brac and clothing.
Amongst the many reasons for supporting your local high street; doing a little retail therapy in your local hospice charity shop will be helping people who need important care in the local area.
Work in progress at the Margate High Street shop
Mandy Hawkett, Pilgrims Retail Area Manager, explained: “The new store will offer a wide variety of pre-loved goods right in the very heart of the High Street, in Margate. The clothing price points will be £5 or less, therefore there are plenty of good reasons to pop along and snap up a trendy bargain.”
Charlee Piper, Pilgrims Shop Manager, said: “The Margate High Street and surrounding area is experiencing a rebirth of sorts, with many of the empty shops being used as art spaces or for new local businesses. We’re excited to be part of that revitalisation.
We will offer a wide variety of pre-loved items, right in the heart of the High Street.
Mandy Hawkett – Pilgrims Retail
“In recent years there has been an influx of young people in their 20’s and 30’s from as far as London. People are keen to up-cycle goods and have such creative ideas to breathe new life into pre-loved goods while maintaining a low carbon footprint and supporting all things local.
“My team are looking forward to a grand opening. We will also be recruiting additional volunteers for the new venture, so keep an eye on the shop window and the Pilgrims website if you would like to become part of our team.”
Opening hours will be:
9 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday
10 am – 4 pm on Sunday
Find a full list of Pilgrims shops in your area here or take a peek on Instagram.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,400 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
26th July 2019
Kitty joins Divas on Wheels to get more women and girls cycling
Kitty Tompsett from Hawkhurst loves to keep fit by running and cycling. Her popular Instagram account @kate.runs.rides is an inspiring insight into her active lifestyle, and she is a firm advocate of body positivity.
Kitty is taking part in Divas on Wheels for Pilgrims Hospices on Sunday 11 August. She shares how she got into cycling and why it’s so important to encourage women to ride.
How and why did you begin cycling?
I have always been the runner and my husband the cyclist, but when my daughter began wanting to ride I decided I would buy a cheap mountain bike for family rides. I soon found a love for it and began mountain biking as well as running, just for myself, spending time in the forest being active.
How did you build up confidence in cycling and riding on the road?
After completing two marathons I was looking for a new challenge. I loved mountain biking but road cycling scared me – I told a friend I would never do a road sportive because I was too nervous riding on the roads. In that moment, I knew I had to do one. Over the past few years I’ve promised myself I would do things that scare me, that I don’t think I can do. This was definitely one of them! So, I applied for Ride London 46 and got a road bike. Sadly, I couldn’t take part as I had surgery for endometriosis at the same time.
Still determined for a challenge I applied, and got a place in, the Ride London 100 ballot. This meant I had to push myself to do things like riding on my own, on busy roads and with clips, and riding distances I didn’t think were possible for me to complete. Each time I’ve achieved one it’s added a little more to my confidence. Without having the event to train for, I don’t think I would have tried some of these things and I would still feel nervous about them.
What are your top tips for anyone taking part in Divas on Wheels?
You don’t have to ride clipped in.
Padded shorts are a must (and Body Glide helps!)
Wear what you’re comfortable in; Lycra is great but it’s not necessary.
Ride the mile you are in.
Find like-minded people to ride with, it will add to the fun.
Why do you think it’s important to get more women cycling?
Cycling, especially road cycling, is still one of the more gender separated sports.
It is so important to encourage women into cycling because that’s how change happens; from within, from the grassroots. As women we often don’t take time for ourselves. Cycling is a great chance to take that time; to be sociable, to achieve and maintain a healthy body and mind and to show that we are as capable as men in the sport.
Starting from The Independent Pedaler in Bridge near Canterbury, choose to ride either a 25-mile or 50-mile route through the countryside on quiet roads.
If you’re new to cycling, have no fear! Dozens of our special Bike Heroes will join you, leading small groups and offering roadside repairs.
Standard entry of £25 is available until 4 August 2019.
On the day entry will be £35.
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 Programme.
23rd July 2019
Garden planters make blooming good therapy
A generous donation from a garden centre has made a hands-on project for patients at Pilgrims Hospice Ashford. The care team provides a variety of wellbeing sessions, ideal for helping service users to remain active and independent.
Leanne Clark, Pilgrims Hospices Wellbeing Practitioner, approached Longacres Garden Centre for a donation of planters to create an engaging project for some of the gentlemen group members. She said: “I was delighted to receive a message from Claire Wilkes, Charities and Events Co-Ordinator at Longacres head office, offering 11 planters for our creative groups.
“The aim was for anyone green-fingered in our Time to Create or Living Well Group to decorate one and we would help them to fill with plants. They are welcome to take the planters home or leave them to be part of the patio display outside the Therapy Centre for everyone to enjoy.”
You can see some of the beautiful handy work if you visit Pilgrims Hospices Summer Garden Party being held in the Ashford hospice gardens on Saturday 3 August, 11 am – 4 pm.
This year, as well as all the many traditional tombolas and fair games for all the family, there will be some fantastic perfume and other bargains to be had on the Pilgrims marketplace stall, as well, of course, as delicious savouries and homemade cakes in the vintage style refreshments tent.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life-limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or click here to read about our Wellbeing Programme.
22nd July 2019
Pilgrims Vintage Tea and Fair raises thousands for hospice care
Once again, Tower House at Westgate Gardens, Canterbury was transformed into a venue for the annual Pilgrims Vintage Tea and Fair on Sunday 21 July. Staff and volunteers dressed in 30’s 40’s and 50’s styles and welcomed visitors, many dressing in traditional styles to suit the occasion.
This charming event is now a regular fixture on Pilgrims Hospices calendar, raising over £4,500 last year and set to match the figure again this year.
Cream tea with traditional homemade cake, along with a variety of stalls, vintage clothing, singers, musicians, dancers, a magician, raffle and tombola helped the much-loved event to become a beautiful and sunny spectacular.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager for Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, said: “We are always overjoyed with the response we receive from supporters and friends who attend our events. Each patient we care for has a life-limiting illness and will require specific and specialist care to meet their individual needs, whether being cared for at one of our three hospices or in their own home. Every cream tea, raffle ticket or trinket purchased is helping our amazing care team to continue with important care and research.”
Every cream tea, raffle ticket or trinket purchased is helping our amazing care team to continue with important care and research.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager
Thank you to our sponsors who help so generously. This means that every £1 from donations and purchases on the day will go directly to Pilgrims care.
Check out our Facebook page for more photos from the event.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life-limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or visit Pilgrims Wellbeing Programme for more information.
16th July 2019
Sunflowers bring two local charities together
The Fifth Trust at Elham Valley Vineyard is supporting a fellow local charity by growing beautiful sunflower plants for Pilgrims Hospices Sunflower Memories remembrance, on Saturday 27 July.
The annual event takes place in the Canterbury hospice gardens, offering people an opportunity to celebrate the lives of loved ones and to dedicate a sunflower in their memory. The informal garden party with music and refreshments helps to raise more than £30,000 for local hospice care each year.
Sara Scriven from Pilgrims Hospices met Peter Buscall, Horticulture Manager for The Fifth Trust at Elham Valley Garden Centre with some of his students to find out how the young plants are developing.
Peter said: “All of the students are adults with a variety of learning disabilities, those who are involved with our horticulture training programme are enjoying watching the sunflowers develop from seeds to strong plants now.
“They have been involved from the point of planting and are continuing to nurture the sunflowers in the greenhouses here at Elham Valley so that they are ready just at the right time for the Pilgrims event on Saturday 27th July.”
Sara Scriven said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to the students along with Peter and his team for supporting us with this project. Also, for so kindly donating all the compost and pots!
“The students were amazing and so welcoming, it’s truly a very special place for those who need some additional support in their adult years.”
The Sunflower Memories appeal from Pilgrims offers people an opportunity to dedicate a sunflower to a loved one in return for a donation. Pilgrims write the dedications on striking sunflower memory markers and plant them in the gardens of the chosen hospice. The sunflowers grown by the students at The Fifth Trust will be available to purchase on the day of the event.
Pilgrims Sunflower Memories remembrance events take place at all three hospices sites:
The Fifth Trust offers a wide range of work-based and therapeutic activities for adults with learning difficulties, you can find out more by visiting www.fifthtrust.co.uk.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life-limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or visit Pilgrims Wellbeing Programme for more information.
