Head shave raises over £1,200 for Pilgrims Hospices
Beth Johnson from Margate has supported Pilgrims Hospices with a challenging head shave to help raise vital funds to support end of life care.
Beth said; “The hospices do such amazing work and took great care of my dad in his final weeks. Over the years I have done a few things to raise money in my dad’s memory, with many events being cancelled and my hair growing out of control, I chose to use my first post lockdown hair cut to raise some much needed funds for the Pilgrims Hospices.
“I decided I would have my hair shaved off to try to raise £500. When I told family, friends and colleagues what I was doing the donations came flooding in and my £500 target was met with in just 48hrs! I was totally amazed by the support. By the time the big day arrived I had more than doubled my original target.
“It was a bit of a shock when I looked in the mirror afterwards, however I am so thrilled with how much I have raised.”
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patient’s to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager said; “Our local community really are our bread and butter, without them we would not be able to provide the services we do.
“Beth is a real breath of fresh air and has raised an incredible sum of money to help support our care. By supporting our charity it enables us to be able to continue to provide daily palliative care throughout east Kent to the next person that needs us.
“£25 would pay for one hour of specialist nursing care in one of our inpatient units. Beth and her amazing supporters have helped provide just over 49 hours of care for the next person that needs us.
“Thank you to each and everyone of you that made a donation to make this possible, and most of all thank you Beth for taking on this brave challenge.”
The hospices do such amazing work and took great care of my dad in his final weeks.
Beth
Care is provided from three hospice sites in Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford as well as in patients’ own homes. To offer these services to patients and their families the charity must raise £11 million each year from the generous local community.
The Year six students at Stelling Minnis Primary School are celebrating their last day of term by creating some crazy hairstyles to raise vital funds for Pilgrims Hospices.
The school year is usually filled with everyone getting involved with fundraising activities to support the local community which due to Covid – 19 have disappointedly been halted. However Year 6 have decided to still do their bit and organise a fundraiser to mark the end of their time at primary school.
Year 6 student, Clara said: “Due to the current pandemic we have been unable to do our usual enterpirses to raise money for charity. We are going to make our last days at primary school count by holding a mad hair day for Pilgrims Hospices.”
Class teacher, Mrs Newsome said: “I am so proud of the thoughtful way the students discussed and voted for a charity. Not only that they have come up with some compelling advertising to encourage donations to Pilgrims Hospices.”
The students have already exceeded their fundraising target of £75 and raised over £500 so far in vital funds for Pilgrims. Their support will make a huge difference, helping Pilgrims to continue delivering specialist care to patients living with a terminal illness and their families throughout east Kent.
I am so proud of the thoughtful way the students discussed and voted for a charity.
Mrs Newsome – Class teacher
If you would like to show your support for the class of 2020 you can make a donation to their Just Giving page here
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 Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
15th July 2020
Sarah and ‘Tony’s Team’ think on their feet for Pilgrims
“It’s been one year since we said goodbye to Tony, my stepfather, to lung cancer. I cannot tell you how much the resource and support of Pilgrims Hospices, Canterbury meant to us, and Tony, during 2019. The hospice was absolutely invaluable and nurses, doctors and staff were there for us through the toughest time.”
On Sunday 12 July 2020, Sarah should have been stood at the start line of the Herne Bay 10k; a local running event organised and hosted by @InvictaEastKentAC. The decision to run in the Herne Bay 10k as part of #TeamPilgrims was a straight forward one for Sarah, she said: “I chose to run the Herne Bay 10k this year as it encompasses the place Tony lived and loved with my mum during his final years. We had so many happy memories at the Hampton Park and at the pier crabbing; it just felt right to join.”
Sarah’s stepfather Tony
Unfortunately, like many events across the country, due to COVID-19 the local running event was cancelled for the safety of the participants, volunteers and the local community. Sarah didn’t let this stop her though. Along with ‘Tony’s Team’, a group of friends who fundraise together for Pilgrims in memory of Tony, they ran their very own Herne Bay 10k; same route, same day, same purpose! They even received well-deserved medals and certificates when they crossed the finish line
We were determined to not let COVID-19 affect our important fundraising event.
Sarah
When asked why they chose to do their own Herne Bay 10k Sarah said: “To go through losing someone during a pandemic is unthinkable. Pilgrims Hospices need our support now more than ever. They have lost income from many fundraising events and their shops and yet, they will still be helping countless families through their darkest hours. In the August of 2019, we set up ‘Tony’s Team’ and challenged ourselves to cycle 25-miles at Divas on Wheels. We were overwhelmed to raise £747 in memory of Tony for Pilgrims Hospices. We are aiming to raise £500 this year, but would love to round off the total amount raised for Pilgrims, from both events, to £1,500 if we can!”
‘Tony’s Team’ have not only reached their target, but have smashed it! Generous friends and family have come out in full force to support them, and have helped them raise £914 for their Herne Bay 10k. This means that their total raised for Pilgrims Hospices is £1,661!
It is thanks to people like Sarah, and ‘Tony’s Team’, that we are able to care for over 2,500 patients each year, whether this is in one of our three inpatient units in Ashford, Canterbury and Margate, or in patient’s own homes. The money raised by ‘Tony’s Team’ could cover the cost of our community care teams at one of our sites for just over 24 hours
Sarah, and ‘Tony’s Team’, are fundraising for Pilgrims to ensure that future families can receive the dedicated care and support that theirs did at such a difficult time. Of their fundraising Sarah said: “We were determined to not let COVID-19 affect our important fundraising event. We had family and friends supporting along the route to cheer us along! This is such an important cause. We are thrilled to have still managed to raise awareness and important funds for Pilgrims Hospices during this time. We are lucky to have Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent and together, we can keep it supporting other families in need.”
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.
10th July 2020
First Hospice in the UK to create a Remembrance Film
Pilgrims Hospices annual summer remembrance Sunflower Memories holds a special place in the hearts of many people across east Kent. Hundreds take part every year by dedicating a sunflower memory marker to their loved ones, and coming together in the hospice gardens in July to share memories and celebrate their loved ones lives.
This year, due to Covid-19, the hospice has been working hard to transform Sunflower Memories from a garden celebration to a remembrance which can be enjoyed from the comfort of home.
Sunflower memory markers are being sent to people at home, and the Individual Giving team are hard at work to prepare a very special film, which will be released on 25 July at 2pm.
Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager said, “In a year when we’ve all been asked to stay at home, and many of us are self-isolating on our own, finding a way to support each other, and remember together, we felt was more important than ever.
We’re so excited to be working with Kerry King, freelance BBC filmmaker, to create our Sunflower Memories remembrance film. We’re not just streaming an online service. This film has been months in the making, and will include many supporters sharing their stories, as well as a behind the scenes look at the extraordinary collaborative effort that helps bring Sunflower Memories together each year. It will be a wonderful insight into the world of the hospice, as well as hearing from some of our staff about what it’s been like working throughout the pandemic.”
Sara adds, “At Pilgrims, we feel it is more important now than ever to come together and share in the memories of our loved ones, and this is why I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage everybody across east Kent, who has lost a loved one to take part, whether they’ve had a connection with the hospice or not. Sunflower Memories is a remembrance for everyone in east Kent. Now is the time to join together in celebration of our loved ones and remember.”
Pilgrims Hospices Sunflower Memories remembrance film will be launched on Saturday 25 July at 2pm on their YouTube channel, website, and social media pages. For more information visit Sunflower Memories call 01227 782062, or email [email protected].
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are 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.
Hazel’s story: Why she left a gift to Pilgrims in her will
Hazel Hayward’s passion for Pilgrims Hospices was driven behind a lifetime career of nursing. She began volunteering in one of the first fundraising teams at Pilgrims in 1991; she aided in raising vital funds to build a brand new hospice in the Isle of Thanet.
In 1992 the first patients were admitted and Hazel continued to fundraise, spending her time manning stalls all year round at numerous local fairs.
Mary Annett, friend of Hazel Hayward said: “I first met Hazel when I was a nurse at the hospice; I remember her coming in with a bag of money one Monday morning having just spent a particularly cold and wet weekend at a fair in St. Nicholas, selling hospice bookmarks and telephone pads.
“She was incredibly cheerful and so happy to be playing her part in keeping the hospice running.
“Hazel had very kindly decided to leave Pilgrims a gift in her Will, with the hospice playing a major part in Hazel’s life during her retirement.
“When she wasn’t out in the community fundraising, or collecting giant cheques from local organisations, she dedicated her time to making different items that could be sold to raise vital funds.
She was incredibly cheerful and so happy to be playing her part in keeping the hospice running.
Mary Annett
“This was well recognised, as in 2002 she was awarded a certificate of merit for outstanding service to her local community. Hazel leaving a gift in her Will means her devotion to Pilgrims can carry on, even after she has gone.”
When Hazel’s memory started to deteriorate, her kind-hearted friends took her under their wing to look after her nearing the end. They will always remember Hazel to have never lost her sense of humour. Hazel spent her last moments in a local Nursing Home and was provided with excellent care and the comfort she deserved after a lifetime of serving others.
By leaving a gift in your will to Pilgrims Hospices, you’ll help to ensure that each person in east Kent with an incurable illness receives the right care where and when they need it.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 4,000 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live well in mind and body until the very end. To offer these services, Pilgrims must raise approximately £11 million each year from the generous local community.
8th July 2020
Louise walks on the one-year anniversary of her mum’s death
On the one-year anniversary of her mum’s death at Pilgrims Hospices, Ashford, Louise will join many others as they virtually hike the Isle of Wight Coastal Path.
Louise Brooks, from Tenterden, has signed up to the Isle of Wight Coastal Path Virtual Hike to raise much-needed funds for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of her mum, Barbara Huckstep.
Here, Louise tells us about her mum, Barbara, and why she is forever grateful for the care, support and comfort that Pilgrims Hospices gave her family.
“Mum was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1999, it was treated with chemotherapy and she was given the clear. In 2016 however we received the news that she had secondary Breast Cancer and it had moved to her lymph nodes and bones. Once again, mum fought it hard with chemotherapy and was determined for life to stay normal. By 2019, this simply wasn’t possible anymore.
Together, as a family, we celebrated mum’s 70th birthday in March 2019. She was breathless, tired and weak. By June mum had deteriorated quickly, and we learnt that the cancer had spread to her brain and liver. This is when we learnt about Pilgrims Hospices.
Barbara and her husband on her 70th Birthday
After a short-stay in hospital, mum was welcomed into Pilgrims Hospices, Ashford, with open arms and thank goodness she was. As soon as I walked in I relaxed. I knew she wasn’t going to be coming home, but I knew she was going to be made comfortable and be looked after.
Shortly after we got mum settled in her room, Rodney, the Ashford PAT dog, was visiting the patients on the ward. He entered mum’s room and instantly joined her on her bed; nestling into her. Rodney’s owner spoke of how rare it was for him to do this to patients. Mum adored dogs and she was overjoyed to be able to stroke him. That was the first time in days that I’d seen mum smile and be aware of her surroundings, it’s something that will stay with me forever.
Dad, my sister and I were introduced to the nursing team, and they carefully took us through mum’s care plan. Before mum’s stay at Pilgrims Hospices I wasn’t aware of the holistic approach that the hospice takes to patient care, and the family. In her final days the hospice made it possible for us to be together as a family, one last time. I cannot even begin to thank them all enough.
Mum had a peaceful 6 days in the hospice. We were allowed to be with her 24/7, until her fight ended on 8th July 2019.
The one-year anniversary of mum’s death was approaching and it seemed like the perfect time to do something positive in mum’s memory. Straight away I knew I wanted to raise money for Pilgrims Hospices so that they can be there for the next family, just like they were for mine. I saw the Isle of Wight Coastal Path Virtual Hike and thought perfect; within an hour I was out walking my first 3 miles. The generosity of friends and family has been overwhelming, it’s spurred me on to complete the 70 mile virtual hike and this is just the beginning of my fundraising journey for Pilgrims Hospices.”
Louise has set up a JustGiving page for her Isle of Wight Coastal Path to raise vital funds for Pilgrims Hospices. If you’d like to support Louise on her virtual hike you can here:
There’s still time to sign up to the Isle of Wight Coastal Path Virtual Hike and challenge yourself this July for local hospice care in east Kent: Sign up here.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are 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.
