After John Marchant’s wife, Betty, was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, he now dedicates a sunflower in hey memory as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, John shares how it helps him to remember Betty and ensure that Pilgrims can continue to support other families in the future.
I knew Betty for 61 years and we were married for 58, so it was a wrench to lose her after all that time and I miss her terribly.
Sunflower Memories helps both me and the hospice and long may it continue.
John
Although I was lucky enough to have her at home with me in her last months, the Pilgrims Hospices ‘girls’ came in regularly to look after her (and me) and I shall be forever grateful to them, hence my continuing support.
Betty was an attractive, intelligent woman and a really good friend. We enjoyed the same things, especially on Exmoor, our favourite holiday destination. I still go back there to remember her.
Sunflower Memories helps both me and the hospice and long may it continue.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
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.
Sunflower Memories: Jane’s story
After Jane Dovey’s husband, Christopher, was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, she now dedicates a sunflower in his memory as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign.
Here, Jane shares how it helps her to keep Christopher’s memory alive and give back for the care they received.
I was first contacted by Pilgrims Hospices after my husband, Christopher, was referred by the hospital. My first thoughts were completely against anything to do with the hospice but that soon changed. The palliative care nurse was absolutely fantastic, and allowed me to care for Christopher at home. The support and help she offered when I stopped working to look after him was just amazing.
Every year, after the event, I collect my sunflower and place it on his grave – he was a gardener so I know he would love to have them near him.
Jane
When my husband’s condition worsened he was taken to hospital. We knew it was time for him to go to the hospice in Ashford, but we couldn’t move him, so Pilgrims came to us. To have their support at that time was so helpful, and is why I now continue to support the amazing work they do.
Christopher
I particularly like to take part in Sunflower Memories each year, which is a wonderful way of keeping Christopher’s memory alive, and to give back to the hospice for what they have done for me. Every year, after the event, I collect my sunflower and place it on his grave – he was a gardener so I know he would love to have them near him. Pilgrims and Sunflower Memories are very close to my heart, and it’s lovely to know that I can remember my husband in this way and keep supporting their important work.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
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.
26th June 2020
Sunflower Memories: David’s story
After David Hodgson’s wife, Christine, was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, he now dedicates a sunflower in her memory as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, David shares how it helps him to remember Christine in the company of others who have experienced Pilgrims’ care.
I first heard about Pilgrims Hospices through my GP when my wife, Christine, was being treated for a brain tumour and I was struggling to cope. I had thought the hospice would only be there for Christine near the end, but the GP told me that they provided help well before that point.
The staff in the Therapy Centre were wonderful and supported me and my wife through that difficult time. They helped with her pain management and enabled me to care for Christine at home, where she preferred to be. When she went into the hospice for her final days, the nurses were great, and the wider staff so compassionate and helpful.
I regularly attend Sunflower Memories, which I find a wonderful way of remembering Christine in the sunshine – when the weather holds up! It is comforting being around others who have been through similar experiences.
David
I tried the one-to-one counselling sessions they offered me then moved on to group counselling. I found the sessions very helpful, as I could see that others had the same feelings and worries that I did. I know now through talking and sharing with others that when anything brings back memories of the good times I had with Christine, shedding a tear is quite normal.
I regularly attend Sunflower Memories, which I find a wonderful way of remembering Christine in the sunshine – when the weather holds up! It is comforting being around others who have been through similar experiences. I have discovered with Pilgrims that there is much support you can give and receive from each other during such moments as I have experienced at the Sunflower Days.
The help I received from everybody at Pilgrims when Christine was ill and during my grieving has helped me tremendously. Thank you all and keep up the good work.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
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.
23rd June 2020
Sunflower Memories: Edith’s story
After Edith Morgan’s husband, Harold, and two close family members were cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, she now dedicates sunflowers in their memories as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, Edith shares how it helps her to remember loved ones in a tranquil summer setting and give back for the care her family received.
I’ve had connections with Pilgrims Hospices for over ten years; my brother, husband, and sister-in-law have all been cared for by Pilgrims and I have been amazed by the hospice every time. I first found out about Pilgrims when my brother, George, was admitted to the Ashford hospice in 2009, after living with a terminal illness for seven years. It was my first experience of a hospice, and I was very impressed. The care and consideration that was shown there was amazing, and the peace it brought was so wonderful.
My husband, Harold, was cared for at home by the wonderful Pilgrims nurses. The kindness and understanding the staff showed us was just incredible, and helped us immensely. I often called for help and advice, and one of their nurses came to visit us at home regularly, and was there shortly before Harold died at home in 2016.
I had always got such pleasure from walking in the gardens at the hospice, so when I found out there was an event that saw them covered with sunflowers I really wanted to go. I do my best to attend each year; although I don’t have my own transport, my niece, Polly, attends with me, and we enjoy coming to see the sunflowers and sharing our memories.
Edith
Shortly after he passed away, my sister-in-law, Maureen, spent her final week in the Canterbury hospice, after being supported by the staff there throughout her illness. Our whole family was helped through a dreadful time; the aftercare of my brother and his family was wonderful and is still going on.
It was soon after Maureen died that I heard about Sunflower Memories, and I thought it was such a lovely idea I knew I had to take part. I had always got such pleasure from walking in the gardens at the hospice, so when I found out there was an event that saw them covered with sunflowers I really wanted to go. I do my best to attend each year; although I don’t have my own transport, my niece, Polly, attends with me, and we enjoy coming to see the sunflowers and sharing our memories.
Last year, I set up an annual direct debit so now I have the assurance of knowing that every year Harold and Maureen will always be two of the many sunflowers in the display. I love the hospice and the staff and I am so grateful to them for being there for me and my family.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
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.
22nd June 2020
Good luck from everyone at Pilgrims!
The team at Clague Architects in Canterbury have been clocking up the miles in aid of Pilgrims Hospices. 15 members of the team have pledged to complete a total of 140 miles by cycling, walking or through other creative means.
Chris Sherlock-Scougall – Associate Architect, started off the challenge.
Chris Sherlock-Scougall, Associate Architect, started off the challenge by connecting Dymchurch and Folkestone. Getting creative, Chris ditched the traditional methods and instead donned his roller blades completing laps around his garden. He successfully covered the 10 miles he needed to pass the virtual baton over to Cheryl Warwick and Stuart Bonnage who completed the next leg to Marine Parade Dover using a more conventional manner, their bikes!
Cheryl Warwick, Architectural Technologist said: “Pilgrims is a charity close to many people’s hearts and now more than ever we need to show our support.
“This was a perfect challenge to reboot our support for Pilgrims as well as bringing the team together.”
The team are aiming to finish the relay mid July at their offices based in Burgate, Canterbury.
Good luck from everyone at Pilgrims!
We are so grateful to have businesses like Clague as part of our community.
Leila, Pilgrims
Colleagues at Clague have long been supporting Pilgrims, entering teams into various events including the annual Pilgrims Cycle Challenge which sees over 1,000 cyclists take on various routes across east Kent. In 2019, a group of staff took on the London Revolution Cycle challenge raising over £500.
Cheryl Warwick – Architectural Technologist who completed the Marine Parade, Dover leg.
Leila Ilkhan, Canterbury Community Fundraising Manager thanks the team at Clague for their wonderful support saying: “With the unexpected challenges we have been faced with over the last few months, we are so grateful to have businesses like Clague as part of our community. As a team, Clague is making a big difference to the lives of patients and their families living with an incurable illness. Their support is so very much appreciated by everyone at Pilgrims.”
Clague have set up an online giving page. If you would like to support their challenge you can do so here.
There are so many ways that you can continue to support Pilgrims. Click here for some virtual fundraising ideas.
If you would like to take on a challenge in support of Pilgrims we would love to hear from you. Please contact our fundraising team here.
We need you more than ever; our local community means everything to us.
This year alone, Pilgrims Hospices has to raise £11 million through voluntary donations in order to run our full range of services. Sponsorship raised through events like these helps us to continue caring for local people at the end of their lives.
19th June 2020
Sunflower Memories: Kathleen’s story
After Kathleen Poole’s father, George, was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, she now dedicates a sunflower in his memory as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, Kathleen shares how it helps her to remember George and support local hospice care at the same time.
My father, George, was first introduced to Pilgrims Hospices when the team got in touch with him to offer help at home. A Pilgrims nurse came to visit him a few times to help with his medication and keep him comfortable. At first, he really didn’t want to go into the hospice, but later he changed his mind.
He loved the summer – it was his favourite time of year – so it feels appropriate to remember him then, and every year I bring his sunflower home to keep in my garden.
Kathleen
George
The care he was given at the Canterbury hospice was so good, and so different to what we had at the hospital. It was such a calm and peaceful place – they made my father feel calmer. They gave him so much care and attention, even if he wasn’t aware of it – bringing water to the table and washing him. They were so good with him, and our family was made to feel welcome to stay and treated so well I could spend all day with my father without feeling in the way. We never felt abandoned when leaving the hospice; I knew they were still looking after him even when I wasn’t there.
This is why I now take part in Sunflower Memories, because it’s such a good way to support the hospice and remember my father. It allows me to give back to the place that made him feel like he was important – they treated him like a person, not a number. He loved the summer – it was his favourite time of year – so it feels appropriate to remember him then, and every year I bring his sunflower home to keep in my garden.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
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.
