Thousands raised at Pilgrims Hospices Christmas Fair
Hundreds attended the Pilgrims Hospices annual Christmas Fair on Saturday 22 November 2025 held at PGL Beyond, Grosvenor Hall, Ashford, where over £14,500 was raised.
Visitors enjoyed delicious refreshments, festive music, and games galore. There was lots to keep children entertained in the craft corner, including decorating a gingerbread shape and painting a plate. Father Christmas and his elves managed to find the time to join us and handed out presents to lots of excited children.
Many local companies and organisations showed their support and donated towards the weekend. With special thanks to PGL Beyond, Kingswood, Grosvenor Hall for the use of their wonderful venue, and our sponsor, Ultima Care.
Community Fundraising Manager, Louise Newman, said:
“A huge thank you from the Pilgrims Fundraising team. We really couldn’t make these amazing events happen without your help. We are grateful to everyone who donated items or joined us on the day; it was a fantastic day and an amazing amount was raised. With the support of over 90 volunteers, we have been able to raise vital funds for Pilgrims!”
Our next Ashford event is our Christmas Tree Recycling campaign, which is a great opportunity to get your real Christmas tree collected by our teams of Pilgrims volunteers. Find out more atpilgrimshospices.org/treerecycling.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
26th November 2025
Paul and Linda’s story of love and life through grief
Linda and Paul met for the first time at a Stepping Stones group, following the loss of their respective partners, Reg and Lydia.
Linda had already been attending for a few months when Paul joined. During the monthly meetings, they gravitated to one another, sitting together and sharing their grief experiences.
Linda: We called Paul ‘the gobby one’. He was always the one to start us off at the groups, because everyone else was too shy to speak first.
Paul: When we were asked how the last month had been, I always answered the same: “It’s been crap.” Because that was the truth, there’s no use not saying it how it is. For a long time, that’s how it was. I was in a real state when I started those groups, but it started getting better.
When it came Linda’s time to leave the group sessions, she offered to be that friend on the end of the phone for anyone that needed it.
Linda: I knew how long the weeks between the groups had felt for me, so I told the volunteer running our group to offer my phone number to anyone who needed someone to talk to in between. In the end, there was three of us – Paul, myself and another lady. We would call each other, and then gradually started meeting up for coffees and walks.
Eventually, Linda and Paul began to find comfort in their shared experiences. They started as ‘grief buddies’, talking on the phone, meeting up for a coffee occasionally, and this turned into friendship.
Linda: We spoke for hours on the phone to each other, almost every day. We would send each other music, quotes, book and TV recommendations, and all the things we found that meant something to us in our grief, and we would share that with each other.
We found our lifestyle choices were so similar, our interests aligned, and, of course, we shared our experience of grief. In the end, we’re just ordinary people. We’re not cruisers, we don’t gallivant around on holidays – a homemade shepherd’s pie at the local cafe, and we’re happy for a day! It sounds boring, but it just works for us. To spend our later years together, and just enjoy being in each other’s company.
Paul:That’s what I had missed the most after Lydia died. Having someone to bounce things off, to spend your evenings with, to hold hands. I could keep myself busy for a day – sometimes I’d just go out and ride the bus all day, just to get out of the house. But it’s the evenings when you feel most alone.
Over the following year, their friendship turned into something deeper.
Paul: We fell in love! Although it took Linda a while to pick up on my subliminal messages.
Linda:Paul would send me YouTube links to such beautiful love songs, but I didn’t pick up on what he was really trying to say to start with. But when I did, we both knew it was right for us.
Paul:We’re so lucky that we came together at a time when we were both ready, and both on the same page.
They both took things slowly to start with, whilst their families navigated their own grief, but it soon became obvious that Linda and Paul were good for each other.
Linda:My daughter would say, “Mum’s laughing and joking, and wearing dresses. What’s happened?” They could see a change in me, and see how happy Paul made me, which helped them accept that my life was moving on.
Paul: Our families get on together so well. I have two children, and two grandchildren, and Linda has four children and eight grandchildren, so it was a worry for us both when we started our relationship. But we get on so well, we’ve spent Christmases with each other, and been invited to each other’s family events.
Everyone we speak to – friends, family, other Stepping Stones members – they are all so happy for us, and pleased to hear we’ve found each other. At my last Stepping Stones group, I told everyone that it would be my last session because I’d found someone, and that someone was Linda; the whole group cheered and clapped. There was so much love and support in the room.
The coming together of their lives culminated in a special moment on Linda’s birthday in 2024, when Paul proposed.
Linda: I did say yes! Now we’re just taking our time – going at a pace that suits us and our families.
Paul: When you’re in the deep depths of grief, you don’t think there’s anything afterwards, or anything to look forward to, but there is. We’re proof of that. We’re so happy, we spend our lives laughing and joking with each other, and it’s because of the hospice.
Linda: We’ve learnt to live with our grief, and we often talk about Lydia and Reg. It doesn’t go away, but you learn to manage it and weave your life around the grief.
A short while after Linda and Paul stopped attending Stepping Stones groups together, they were invited by Simone, Stepping Stones Coordinator, to come back in and train as volunteers themselves to run a new peer-led bereavement support group called Stepping Forward.
Linda: Paul is very empathetic, kind and gentle, and that was noticed by the volunteers running the Stepping Stones groups when we were attending. He would always keep an eye on everyone in the group, and go to the people who seemed to be struggling, or who looked like they needed someone to talk to. The Stepping Stones volunteers, and Simone, recognised that at the time, so when they invited Paul to come in, and me too, we jumped at the chance.
Paul:It’s really strengthened our relationship, being able to volunteer together. We spend all our time together – except when we’re at work during the day – so to come here and do this together as well really works for us. We’ve been running the fortnightly groups since February, and we love it.
Linda spoke about how supported they both feel to run the groups, which reflects the continual support the hospice has given them both throughout their journeys.
Linda: We’ve been on courses to prepare us for running the fortnightly Stepping Forward group – we’re really supported by the hospice to facilitate these groups, and help the people attending understand their grief. We’ve been supported all the way through, from our own grief experiences, and now to giving back and helping people who are going through the same things.
Paul:The hospice helped us immensely when we needed them. We often wonder where we’d be if not for Pilgrims. Now, it’s a spiritual home for both of us. When you walk in those doors, you feel their arms wrap around. It’s a lovely place, full of hope.
Linda:When we come to the hospice, we’re happy. It’s not about death here, it’s about living. And it’s so nice to give back to the hospice, for everything it’s given us. It really is part of our family, part of us. It grows with us, we grow with it. We’ve developed as human beings, and as a couple, only because of the support and care and kindness we’ve experienced at the hospice.
They both love coming back to the hospice, to give some of the support they experienced to those now going through the same things.
Paul: Every fortnight, we look forward to the group session, wanting to know who will be there, and excited to be there alongside them as they explore their grief and share with each other in such a compassionate environment.
Linda: The group is so welcoming to new members, so compassionate to one another, it’s a pleasure to see how they support one another and form their own friendships and support networks. There’s a lot of positivity in the group. As volunteers, we aren’t there to share our grief, but to facilitate their conversations, and give them the space to share their experiences. We do share that we are together, and met through Stepping Stones, to give that little beacon of hope that there is life beyond the grief.
Paul: Stepping Stones is the only reason we’ve met, we owe it all to the hospice, and we want to give back in whatever way we can. We’re so lucky that we get to come here, and help others like us, and we just want to do more.
Linda: This place saved our lives, people don’t realise how valuable it is. There’s so much peripheral support that the hospice gives to people, and everyone should know what’s available and how they can help.
For a glimpse of where it all began, and to see what a difference time has made for Linda, you can read her Always Caring story, including an (anonymous) cameo from Paul, as her fellow Stepping Stones attendee, summing up what the sessions mean to him.
For more information about bereavement support available or to access any of our services, please call us on01233 504 127or email [email protected].
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
25th November 2025
Louise raises thousands for Pilgrims Hospices in London Marathon triumphs
Louise Ellis, a teaching assistant from Rotherfield near Tunbridge Wells, has completed the London Marathon twice, first in 2011 and again in 2025, both times for Pilgrims Hospices; alongside other fundraising, since 2008, Louise has raised £5,108.85 in total for hospice care in east Kent.
Louise ran in memory of her parents, Pat and Christopher Rundle, who both received Pilgrims’ care at the Ashford hospice, to give back and help ensure that other families can benefit from vital hospice services.
Pat had pancreatic cancer and was cared for by Pilgrims in 2008.
Louise’s parents, Christopher and Pat
Sadly, 10 years later in 2018, Christopher was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer; Pilgrims supported him to remain at home for as long as possible during his illness, and he died at the Ashford hospice in 2020.
Louise said: “When Mum was diagnosed, a devastating time was made a little easier knowing she would receive Pilgrims’ care. I imagined the hospice to be a dull, bleak and sad environment, but this was far from what we experienced.
“It was warm, inviting, supportive and caring; every staff member communicated with us clearly about Mum’s care.
“Difficult conversations were had, but they were delivered with compassion and sincerity, and gave Mum and us clarity in the inevitable, sad prognosis.
“After Mum passed away in April 2008, the care our family received meant the world. Mum’s four grandchildren, who were exceptionally close to her, were invited to a family day, where they each made memory boxes and jars. My son, Robbie, still has his jar, and every different coloured layer represents a special memory of Mum; her love for the garden, being outside in the sunshine, and our family.
Louise at the London Marathon
“My dad also attended several Pilgrims support groups, which aided the painful loss of his wife of 38 years.”
When Christopher received his cancer diagnosis in 2018, and after undergoing major surgery, Pilgrims helped him get well enough to care for himself at home. He attended the hospice whenever he needed extra care or medical intervention, and died there peacefully in April 2020, just as the UK went into lockdown.
Louise continued:
“Again, our family were kept fully informed. My twin sister, Cate, was encouraged and allowed to stay with Dad until the end. Pilgrims were always available on the phone to update us on his condition, which is something we’ll be forever grateful for.
“Dad was a staunch advocate of Pilgrims; he knew personally how invaluable their care is – to not just patients, but to families as well. Pilgrims has also helped bring our family together with the annual Sunflower Memories and Trees of Love remembrance events. We have a lovely photo of us with Dad, sitting amongst the sunflowers, which brings back memories of a wonderful place.
Louise and her family at Sunflower Memories
“The care given by Pilgrims to Mum and Dad truly made a real difference to me, so I knew I wanted to give back at some point. I was lucky enough to get a ballot place for the London Marathon in 2011; at the time, my first thought was to raise funds for Pilgrims, to thank them for all they did for Mum.
“Between 2008 when I started fundraising for Pilgrims, and 2011 when I completed my first London Marathon, I raised £2,815.50!
Cate and Louise
“In 2024, I got my running club’s place for the London Marathon, and again decided to raise money for Pilgrims – especially as my sister, Cate, now works as a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner for this amazing charity. She is so passionate about making a difference to people affected by life-limiting illnesses. She is dedicated, compassionate and extremely knowledgeable, and I can only begin to imagine the incredible difference she herself is now making to families like ours. I’m unbelievably proud of her, and sing her praises from the rooftops at every opportunity!”
Louise raised a further £2,208.60 by running London Marathon 2025. She fundraised mainly via social media, supported by family, friends, colleagues, her running club, and parents at the school where she works.
She added:
“I hope the money raised will make a small difference to people and families who need Pilgrims’ care – whether that’s enabling children to attend a family day, or providing essential nursing care to patients. Our family will be forever grateful for the care and support we’ve received from Pilgrims over the years, so it feels fitting to repay them by giving back in this way – especially as Cate is now a significant and much-valued member of the Pilgrims care team.”
And what advice would Louise give to others wanting to fundraise for Pilgrims?
“Be unashamedly passionate and relentless on social media! Start posting months ahead of the race; each post usually results in several donations. Share significant mileage, races, running in awful weather conditions etc. and how raising money for such an important charity spurs you on to keep going, especially if you’re doing it in a loved one’s memory.”
Louise’s top London Marathon tips
Preparation
Join a running club if you have one near you; the camaraderie, support and encouragement can be invaluable.
Take advice about nutrition, gels, electrolytes etc. as they can make a real difference to your training and race experience.
Sign up for a few half marathons, which will help you gauge your pace and give you a feel for racing.
On the day
Above anything, enjoy the experience and the day.
Make sure you have family members and friends dotted along the course, especially for the last 5-6 miles; the thought of seeing them will literally keep your legs going!
Take full advantage of the enthusiasm and encouragement from the crowd.
Believe and have faith in your training, and all the miles you have put in ahead of the big day.
Do not change anything on race day; stick to everything you have done on your long runs, including nutrition/fuelling, clothing etc.
STAY HYDRATED!
Have your name printed/written clearly on the front of your running vest so people can shout it out; it will feel like all your best friends are cheering you on every step of the way.
Stick to your planned pace in order to save some energy for the last few miles. It’s easy to get scooped up with the crowds, especially as it is a flat race, so keep checking your watch and your pace.
Once you’ve finished, make sure you celebrate this incredible achievement with family and friends and raise a glass to loved ones and the hospice; savour the glory of running 26.2 miles/42.165km for such an amazing cause.
Pilgrims Hospices charity places for London Marathon 2026 are full, but if you have a ballot place, we’d love you to join Team Pilgrims and fundraise for us.
Please contact our Fundraising team to find out more:
If you’re inspired by Louise’s fundraising journey, visit pilgrimshospices.org/events to find out how you can support Pilgrims Hospices by taking on an event or challenge for local hospice care.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
23rd November 2025
Dyson Dash Pilgrims Hospices Race raises £2,362 for local hospice care
Photograph: Alistair Barnett of Broadstairs Sailing Club
Pilgrims Hospice Thanet is delighted to have received an annual donation of £2,362 from the Dyson Dash Pilgrims Hospice Race, held at Broadstairs Sailing Club over the August bank holiday weekend.
The cheque was presented to Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet, by Michael Todd, Vice Commodore of Broadstairs Sailing Club.
Michael shared the origins of the event:
“The Dyson Dash Pilgrims Hospice Race was created in memory of Broadstairs Sailing Club member and former Flag Officer, Steve Dyson, who sadly passed away on 25 August 2008. Steve spent his final days at the Margate hospice, where he received exceptional care. In gratitude, the Club felt it only right to give something back.
“What began as a tribute to Steve has grown into a celebration of all our past members, including those from the Royal Temple Yacht Club, Minnis Bay Sailing Club, Margate Yacht Club and Downs Sailing Club, whose sailors continue to support the race each year.
“For the past 17 years, the Dyson Dash Pilgrims Hospice Race has taken place every August bank holiday, featuring three back-to-back races. Entry is by donation, and all proceeds – including bar takings and buffet meal donations – go directly to Pilgrims Hospices.
“We are fortunate to have a major sponsor, Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds’), who generously provide a free 72-pint barrel of Seasider each year. This year, we were also kindly supported by Pips Cider, who donated two polypins of cider.
“To date, the Dyson Dash has raised an amazing £39,375.09 for the Margate hospice. We are incredibly proud of our ongoing connection with Pilgrims Hospices and look forward to supporting them for many years to come.”
Karen expressed her thanks on behalf of the charity:
“We would like to thank everyone who has organised, sponsored and supported this wonderful event over the past 17 years. These incredible donations have helped to fund more than 1,575 hours of specialist care, both in our hospice and in patients’ own homes.
“We simply couldn’t provide our services without your continued generosity. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year!”
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. There is also a 24-hour advice line.
21st November 2025
Kate’s Everest trek: Reaching new heights for hospice care
Kate and her sister, Beth, with their dad, Nicholas
In March 2026, 22-year-old Kate Jordan from Herne Bay will take on the adventure of a lifetime – trekking to Everest Base Camp in support of Pilgrims Hospices.
Kate is joining Team Pilgrims to challenge herself, raise vital funds for local hospice care, and celebrate her dad, Nicholas, who was cared for by Pilgrims in 2020.
Kate’s dad, Nicholas
Nicholas bravely battled mesothelioma for 10 months before he passed away. Throughout his illness, Pilgrims provided exceptional care, ensuring he was comfortable and supported, while also offering guidance and compassion to Kate and her family, which has continued ever since. Pilgrims remains incredibly close to Kate’s heart, so when she spotted the charity’s Everest Base Campchallenge, it immediately caught her eye.
“To be completely honest, I found the Everest trek by chance; I was looking on the Pilgrims website to see if they had any fun events coming up and saw it and thought ‘Wow, that looks cool’, and then 30 minutes later I’d paid my deposit! I think it will be the most incredible mental and physical challenge, an opportunity that’s so hard to pass up, and I am just so extremely excited! I feel grateful to take on the challenge with people who have a connection to the hospice and to keep raising money!”
Reflecting on her father’s time with Pilgrims, Kate shared:
“My dad spent his last few days resting comfortably in the Thanet hospice, with the amazing staff making sure that his closest family could be there with him as much as possible right until the end. My dad was the most hilarious man with his dry sense of humour; he gave me and my sister a childhood full of love and happy memories, and even five years after he left, I still feel that I am learning valuable lessons from him.”
Since then, Kate and her sister have hosted three annual charity quiz nights in support of Pilgrims, and Kate has also taken on a tandem skydive. Now, she’s preparing for her biggest adventure yet – reaching the base camp of the world’s tallest mountain.
“I think one of the most wholesome things about Everest is that everyone has some connection to Pilgrims Hospices, and I like to think that the higher the altitude, the closer we will feel to our loved ones. When I think about the day we reach base camp, it gives me goosebumps! I have already met some of the lovely people I will be taking on the trek with, and it’s made this even more real and exciting! I can’t wait for the no doubt breathtaking views, to learn about the culture, and to prove to myself that if I put my mind to it, I can do it!”
Kate with her dad
Training for the trek is already well underway for Kate, and she’s loved meeting others who share her connection to Pilgrims. Building friendships and sharing stories has made preparing for the adventure even more meaningful:
“The people I’ve met so far have been nothing but lovely, and that includes all the fundraising staff! I completed the 25km Pilgrims Way Challenge with five others from Base Camp and we had such a giggle! It was so nice sharing stories about our lives whilst remembering our loved ones who we’ve lost.”
“I would say to anyone considering Base Camp, just do it! This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and if I’ve learnt anything over these past five years, it’s that life is way too short, and you don’t know what’s around the corner – so get that sign up form and take the chance! My family definitely think I’m nuts for doing this, but they’re also the most supportive and loving family, and I know if my dad was here today he would be calling me crazy but he would also be very proud, and that’s the reason I am doing it.”
Sophie Howland, Events Fundraiser at Pilgrims Hospices, said:
“Kate is taking on an incredible challenge to support local hospice care. Her courage, positivity and determination is truly inspiring, and every step she takes will make a real difference for local families. We’re so proud of her and can’t wait to cheer her on all the way to Base Camp.”
Feeling inspired?
In March 2026, Kate and other Pilgrims supporters will set out on a 16-day adventure through the Himalayas to the foot of Mount Everest, including an 11-day trek to the iconic Everest Base Camp. Along the way, they’ll pass through ancient Sherpa villages, witness spectacular sunrises over snow-capped peaks, and take in breathtaking views from Kala Patthar – all while raising vital funds to support hospice care across east Kent.
Led by an experienced UK Mountain Leader and supported by local experts, this is a once in a lifetime journey that will test both mind and body, create unforgettable memories, and bring together people connected by a shared purpose.
Places for this incredible challenge are limited, and registration closes on 12 December 2025.
Pilgrims Hospices provides specialist care, free of charge, to thousands of people across east Kent each year. Services are offered from its three hospice sites in Canterbury, Ashford, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes.
11th November 2025
Avneet’s journey as a junior doctor at Pilgrims Hospices: “Pilgrims enables dignity in death”
At Pilgrims Hospices, specialist palliative care doctors and consultants play a vital role in supporting patients and their families.
They focus on managing and improving the physical symptoms that accompany a variety of life-limiting illnesses, with the broader aim of helping people to live well – in both mind and body – in the time that they have left.
Avneet Kaur Dhandee, a junior doctor from London, completed a placement at the Canterbury hospice in 2025. She shares her experiences, including how her Sikh faith, informs her medical practice.
What inspired you to do your training at Pilgrims Hospices?
I’m interested in becoming a GP, with special interests in palliative care and mental health, so I felt a hospice placement would be essential to inform my future career. I’ve gained immense knowledge from my time at Pilgrims, and look forward to applying this to my practice, which will include hospitals, care homes and patients’ homes.
What has your role involved and what have you learnt through working at Pilgrims? Has anything surprised you?
Working at Pilgrims, I’ve seen how effective primary care management can aid in reducing the pressure on hospice services, which are mostly funded by charitable donations.
Pilgrims deliver skilled and compassionate end-of-life care, free of charge, to thousands of people across east Kent every year. They provide extensive services in the community, with care teams attending patients in their homes, care homes, and nursing homes. Supporting families is also a key focus; Pilgrims offer dedicated groups, from therapies to legacy work and so much more.
I’ve been able to get involved with delivering many of these services, including:
Clerking in new patients
Identifying actively dying patients and managing their care appropriately
Prescribing effective medication dosages and identifying beneficial choices of analgesia, anti-emetics, laxatives, and syringe drivers
Visiting patients at home alongside the medical team
Throughout my placement, I was guided and supported by a consultant and the wider Pilgrims team, who are all amazing!
I initially associated hospice work with sadness, grief and anguish, but I felt so much gratitude during my time at Pilgrims. Whilst some negative emotions are definitely more real than ever within the hospice environment, positive feelings shine through; families share their gratefulness for the care, patients express relief as they become the most pain-free they’ve ever been, and it’s lovely to see the comfort people feel thanks to the kindness shown by staff.
Do you have any favourite memories from your time at Pilgrims?
Something I’m most proud of is taking part in the Pilgrims Way Challenge 2025, which took place whilst I was working at the hospice. I completed the challenge with my medical school friend, Sana. We walked 35km from Dover to the Canterbury hospice, on a very hot day! When we crossed the finish line, we were cheered on by the wonderful ward nurses and patients.
Sana Hussain And Avneet Kaur Dhandee 1
Sana Hussain And Avneet Kaur Dhandee 2
Afterwards, I visited the hospice and showed my medal to the nurses and patients I’d been looking after. I was particularly emotional and overwhelmed by the donations I received from family, friends, staff, patients and patients’ families – with messages including “thank you for your kindness and care towards my sister” and “thank you for being the best doctor I’ve met.”
Sana and I are proud to have raised over £2,600 for Pilgrims!
Did you have any preconceptions/assumptions about hospice care before coming to Pilgrims?
I thought hospice care was only for those at the end of life; I imagined sick people who were very close to dying. I now know that it often starts much earlier, when life-limiting diagnoses are made. Not everyone comes to the hospice to die; symptom control is a key reason for referral, to help enable patients to live well in the community. Pilgrims has a dedicated team for community visits, which expands care beyond the hospice walls.
Why is hospice care important?
I practice the Sikh faith, and am inspired by many Sikh values in how I live my life. Core aspects of the Sikh ethos include the Panjabi terms “sewa” (selfless service) and “daya” (compassion).
As hospices are almost completely charity funded, they are a prime example of sewa and daya, helping to better thousands of people’s lives and their experiences of end-of-life care, every single year.
Not only do hospices support patients with life-limiting conditions with their physical symptoms, they also support both patients and families with the psychological challenges faced at such an emotional time.
Why do we need to talk about death and dying, and how does Pilgrims help people to do this?
I’m inspired by Bhagat Puran Singh Ji (1904-1992), a prominent Sikh personality who was a humanitarian and environmentalist. He founded Pingalwara in Amritsar, a refuge for the sick, disabled, destitute, and abandoned, which developed into a charity that continues to flourish, expand and serve hundreds of thousands.
Bhagat Puran Singh Ji once stated: “Dignity in death is a birthright of each living thing.” His advocacy for death with dignity centered on ensuring that those who were terminally ill spent their final days in cleanliness, comfort, and love, without suffering – allowing them to die peacefully, cared for, and respected.
I believe these teachings and acts of service that I have looked up to are naturally been embedded within Pilgrims’ vision and care. Pilgrims encourage patient and family involvement from the first assessment and beyond – ensuring that patient wishes and dignity are upheld to the best of our abilities. As a multidisciplinary team, we all strive to work together in assessing needs, prioritising patient comfort, providing wider support to family and friends, and ensuring patient wishes are at the forefront of everything we do.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
