Pete’s family raise thousands to support future hospice care
Hannah Austin (28) from Ebbsfleet experienced Pilgrims Hospices first-hand when her dad, Pete Austin (57), was cared for by the charity. The family asked loved ones to donate to Pilgrims in lieu of funeral flowers, hoping to raise £200 in Pete’s memory; they surpassed this target, raising a phenomenal £2,020 for the charity that provides vital end-of-life care for people across east Kent.
Hannah with her dad Pete
Pete, a retired escalator engineer from Birchington, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2019. Hannah said: “He enjoyed a healthy vegan diet, keeping fit, socialising down the pub with family and friends and going on holidays with my mum Viv. They were happily married for 35 years. He was a kind family man who loved life.”
She added: “Dad was very brave and went through all the treatment he could, including three months of intense chemotherapy. Unfortunately, even though he fought so hard and did incredibly well, it did not work for him, and the decision was made to stop all treatment.”
At this point, Pilgrims stepped in to support Pete and his family. The charity organised doctors and nurses to visit every day and keep him comfortable, enabling him to stay at home and be cared for by loved ones. Hannah said: “They supported my dad and the whole family; they would regularly phone my mum to check she was doing okay. Pilgrims were always just a phone call away if we had any questions or concerns.”
“I found out I was pregnant the week my dad passed away and luckily I managed to tell him, which was the last time I saw him awake. Even though it’s sad as we know how much he wanted grandchildren, having my little girl has helped our whole family get through it. My brother’s wife was also pregnant at the time, so now my mum has her hands full with two grandchildren, which she loves!”
To me, Pilgrims means a safe place for support when you need it the most. As we received such brilliant support, and because we know Pilgrims relies so much on donations, we wanted to give back so they can continue their good work supporting other families in the future.
Hannah
Pete passed away peacefully on 31 May 2020. Due to COVID restrictions, only a small number of people could attend his funeral in person, so the family asked loved ones to donate to Pilgrims via a JustGiving page instead of sending flowers. Initially aiming to raise £200, their hopes were far exceeded.
Hannah said: “We were astounded to raise over £2,000 for Pilgrims, which shows just how loved our dad was.”
“To me, Pilgrims means a safe place for support when you need it the most. As we received such brilliant support, and because we know Pilgrims relies so much on donations, we wanted to give back so they can continue their good work supporting other families in the future.”
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,400 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.
21st April 2021
#SalvagedWithLove: Erin’s mission to change the world and support hospice care
Erin Hayhow from Whitstable is a fashion designer on a mission to change the world. Using only waste materials, which she dyes and paints with her own designs, she is on her way to building a sustainable future for the fashion industry. Her slogan is #SalvagedWithLove.
Erin’s mum, Sarah, was cared for at the Canterbury hospice in 2014. To give back for the support her family received, she plans to donate to Pilgrims Hospices as her brand grows and hopes to run up-cycling workshops with Pilgrims shops in the near future.
Sarah and Erin
After graduating with a first class BA in Fine Art from Solent University, Erin moved to Berlin to pursue a career as an artist but returned home when her mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
She said: “I was her carer for two years; during that time, creativity was so important to me because it was a way of understanding what was happening.
“My mum was the most fashionable person I know; my love for fashion came from her, she always dressed me in the coolest clothes. Putting my legs through plastic carrier-bags from our weekly shopping trips, pulling up the handles like straps, I’d made my first pair of dungarees. I wasn’t allowed to wear high heels, but I improvised by painting papier-mache tissue boxes and toilet roll tubes. I put them on with my new dungarees and strutted down my garden like a catwalk.
“During her illness, Mum would wear amazing garments every day and it would give her the ability to conquer the world. It became her armour, and it’s the same to me.”
Erin doing her Firewalk
Sarah was initially given a three-month prognosis but lived with cancer for 18 months. She didn’t feel she needed hospice support until the end of her life. Erin continued: “Mum’s mindset changed once Pilgrims was involved. I remember the hospice so strongly, there was a big community of people ready to support us. They were incredible with her. This was my first experience of hospice care and I want to raise awareness so that others know they can access it, too.”
Erin went on to complete a Fashion Design MA at UCA Rochester, achieving a distinction. She finished her five-piece collection Flowers Grow in Dustbins, made from 100% recycled materials, in 2019; these garments are available to purchase on her website. She also sells a range of more affordable pieces via Instagram @eirinnhayhow. To give back for the support her family received, Erin will donate 5% of the money made from sales to Pilgrims. Erin also took part in the charity’s sponsored Firewalk event in Canterbury on 13 March 2020.
I remember the hospice so strongly, there was a big community of people ready to support us. They were incredible with her. This was my first experience of hospice care and I want to raise awareness so that others know they can access it, too.
Erin
Erin plans to continue donating to Pilgrims as her brand grows and hopes to run up-cycling workshops with its shops in the near future, in exchange for materials that they can’t sell. Tim Stewart, Retail Business Development Manager at Pilgrims, said: “I met Erin in 2019 and she told me her story, explaining she’d been buying bits from our shops and using them as a basis for her new pieces. It was obvious to me that she was talented, and that she wanted to give something back to Pilgrims. So I offered her some materials that we hadn’t been able to sell, along with a couple of rails, and a mannequin to help her starting up. She was very grateful for the support and has offered to run design and screen-printing classes at one of our shops. We look forward to working with Erin in the future.”
Erin added: “After my mum passed away, I moved back to Berlin and began screen-printing on t-shirts and garments DIY-style. As my sewing skills improved, I used fabrics and materials that were either found on the street or donated to charity shops – from there I started to form my own collections. In 2017, I sold my first collection at Studio183 in Bikini Berlin. That summer, I moved back to Whitstable and opened a pop-up store in an old shipping container in a furniture yard in Margate. I became part of a waste-free fashion collective made up of four members; we all make garments from waste materials. We’ve had three shows at the Turner Contemporary and one at Soho House Berlin.
“The fashion industry is the world’s second biggest contributor to global warming, with 350,000 tonnes (that’s around £140 million worth) of used but still wearable clothing going to landfill in the UK every year. My brand says no to fast fashion. It is my intention to help solve our global waste crisis by creating imaginative solutions for unwanted materials.
“We need to find sustainable solutions to our waste problems. We need to re-think the fast fashion system. Fashion should be positive, it should be inclusive, it should be empowering. As designers of the future, it is our duty to be sustainable.”
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,400 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.
16th April 2021
Chris has real sax appeal
Saxophonist Chris Peters can regularly be seen and heard entertaining people in Market Square Faversham, the popular local character plays his jazzy tunes to raise funds for local charity, Pilgrims Hospices. He has raised thousands in vital funds for the charity since he started in July 2018.
Chris who is happily retired now, after 50 years working in engineering as a tool room precision machinist says: “I love busking, it’s great fun. Faversham is the perfect place for me to play, I love it. I have made many new friends along the way and to bring a bit of cheer, and raise money for such a good cause makes me very happy. The volunteers in Pilgrims Hospices Faversham charity shop suggested I give it a go, so a big thank you to them, I don’t think I would have been brave enough to do it without their encouragement.
“My personal reason for wanting to support Pilgrims, is that my very good neighbour Charlie, passed away in the Canterbury hospice. He was my next door neighbour for 53 years. He was helped very much by your staff there, and I saw the care that he received. It is very obvious that the people of Faversham appreciate the hospice too, and are very supportive.”
The volunteers in Pilgrims Hospices Faversham charity shop suggested I give it a go, so a big thank you to them, I don’t think I would have been brave enough to do it without their encouragement.
Chris
Chris has always played guitar; took up clarinet some 30 years ago and then the saxophone 20 years ago. “I think I’ll stick with this now!!” He added.
He loves to play anything ‘old fashioned’ especially from 1930s to the 1950s and doesn’t have any particular favourites, as there were so many great songwriters of those times. However, he does enjoy the great tones of his favourite sax player Scott Hamilton.
“I have done a few little gigs locally, including The Yarn Dispensary, New Year’s Eve for Castella French wine bar, and a local food market for the council. I think my highlight would be when I played for a wedding at Eastwell Manor, it was really scary, but something I will never forget.” Chris added.
Leila Ilkhan, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager said: “A big thank you to Chris for his wonderful support for Pilgrims Hospices, which is helping our nurses, doctors and wider teams to be there for those living with a terminal illness. The support from Chris and those donating as they enjoy his music is so important to our charity and the families we care for across east Kent.”
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.
Clare’s legacy to Pilgrims Hospices
Clare Horne, Lead Physiotherapist at Pilgrims Hospices will retire from the much loved local charity in April 2021 leaving a legacy of a fully trained and committed team of physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants.
Clare has dedicated her career to caring for people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise. Her 18 years with Pilgrims have been a vital part of helping patients to manage pain, and to continue to live life to the full.
Clare told us: “I trained as a physiotherapist at West Middlesex University Hospital 1979-82 straight from school. My first job was at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford as a “rotational” physiotherapist.”
Physiotherapy is so important to our patients; by empowering them with the techniques to retain good movement and continue to exercise, many can remain independent for as long as possible.
Clare
Clare’s career has taken her across the world to Hong Kong in 1984, Reykjavik in Iceland, on to Saudi Arabia, and Toronto in Canada before she returned in 1989 to the UK and the William Harvey Hospital as a Superintendent Physiotherapist working in ICU.
“I came to work for Pilgrims at the Ashford hospice in 2003, this memorable date always sticks in my mind – 03.03.03.
“Physiotherapy is so important to our patients; by empowering them with the techniques to retain good movement and continue to exercise, many can remain independent for as long as possible.
During this challenging year my team has been busy filming virtual therapy sessions for patients who we’ve been unable to meet with face to face. We now have a range of videos that are available on YouTube… We’ve all found new skills and adapted those we regularly use to provide vital care for those who need our care the most.
Clare
“Initially I was the only physiotherapist employed directly by the hospice, and only worked at the Ashford hospice at the time. At first I had a clinic room to work from but as Pilgrims recognised the importance of physio support for patients, with the charity’s encouragement I was able to establish a patient gym and a variety of equipment to suit individual needs.
Clare in the hospice gym
“As time went on, I took on the role of lead physiotherapist and now have physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants, one of each at the three hospice sites. Now each site contains a well-equipped gym, I’m very proud of the work we’ve done to support patients to live well. I think the phrase is ‘From small acorns…’ I started at Pilgrims as the sole physio and now, look at the fantastic service we offer to the community patients, in-patients, out-patients and in Pilgrims Therapy Centres.
“During this challenging year my team has been busy filming virtual therapy sessions for patients who we’ve been unable to meet with face to face. We now have a range of videos that are available on YouTube that include seated exercise, managing breathlessness and many more. We’ve all found new skills and adapted those we regularly use to provide vital care for those who need our care the most.
“Being with patients and seeing them benefit from our service in many different ways, also their families, is rewarding, working with a great team who have the common goal of doing the best for their patients is extremely satisfying.
“Services during the pandemic have had to change dramatically, and my role has taken on many different beings, from Tea Lady, to fit mask tester, with a bit of physiotherapy thrown in, however it is so exciting that in my final week we are inviting back our first out-patient to the gym!”
Everyone at the hospices wishes Clare a very happy retirement and will miss her very much.
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.
