15 July 2024

Help Pilgrims Hospices raise £166,853 for new specialist beds

Pilgrims Hospices needs your support to reach £166,853 for the purchase of new specialist beds. These beds are vital to delivering the highest standard of care and comfort to the patients we look after in our wards.


Will you give our patients a good night’s sleep?

Comfort and care are at the heart of what we do at Pilgrims Hospices. Our journey began with just two beds at the Canterbury hospice in 1982, and today, we offer beds to over 900 people each year across our three hospices. Each ward accommodates 12 beds, and to ensure the best possible care, these beds need replacing every seven years.

Some of our beds are approaching the end of their lifespan. They have served us well, but maintaining them is becoming increasingly costly, and some are nearly beyond repair. With your help, we can provide our patients with the comfort they deserve and continue to care for them safely.

It was wonderful to accept the cheque from Steve and his brothers from the East Kent Freemasons. Thank you so much for supporting Pilgrims Hospices Bed Appeal with your generous donation.

Ellie Cane, Individual Giving Manager

We have already received an incredible response to our appeal and have managed to raise more than £137,719, and counting! This surpasses the deposit needed to place the order. Now, we need your help to reach the target.

A personal appeal

Steve Read, from the East Kent Freemasons:

“For many years, my wife and I have donated to Pilgrims Hospices, having had two close family members who needed their facilities. We received a letter in February asking for help with the Bed Appeal. Each of the three hospices at Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet needs 12 new beds every seven years at a current cost of £4,212 per bed. With 900 people using these beds annually, they are crucial. The beds have bedside controls for patients, their families, and staff to help find a comfortable position, and they can be lowered to the floor to reduce fall risks and allow nurses to work safely.”

Community support

The Valley of Elham Lodge No.6649 responded to this important appeal by donating £4,212 to purchase one bed. The cheque was presented by Peter Gagger, Rashid Bellini and Steve Read, to the Ashford hospice on April 26 2024.

Ellie Cane, Individual Giving Manager, added: “We’ve recently surpassed the £100,000 mark for the appeal, and we are absolutely thrilled with the responses from the generous public and local organisations. It was wonderful to accept the cheque from Steve and his brothers from the East Kent Freemasons. Thank you so much for supporting Pilgrims Hospices Bed Appeal with your generous donation.”

Thank you for your support

Every generous donation from our community helps ensure we can be there for the next family in need. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, please find out more about the full range of services Pilgrims can offer.

New beds will make a significant difference. They are fully adjustable, with bedside controls to help find a comfortable position, and can be lowered to reduce fall risks. Paired with specialist floor mats, they can even be made into doubles, allowing precious nights to be spent close together with family members. The side-rails can be lowered or removed, enabling loved ones to cuddle with each other.

Your support is crucial. Help us ensure our patients sleep easier and receive the best possible care. Please consider donating today to the Pilgrims Hospices Bed Appeal; donate now and make a difference.


Pilgrims Hospices is a charity dedicated to providing expert care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses in east Kent. Our services ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families, offering compassionate care both in hospice settings and in the community.