Pride of Pilgrims is nominated for Pride of Britain award
Pilgrims Maintenance Engineer Gary Kirton, feels honoured to be named in the top four nominees for Fundraiser of the Year in the ITV Meridian, Pride of Britain Awards.
Gary from Kingsnorth, Ashford has been fundraising ever since the late 1980s when he started a sweepstake on the Grand National horse race, which grew into a club that started supporting lots of charities. Over the years, Gary has raised almost £300,000 for charitable causes including Pilgrims Hospices where he has worked as an integral part of their maintenance team for 12 years, and has raised between £70,000 and £80,000 for the charity that’s so close to his heart.
Gary said: “I was completely surprised and very honoured when I heard I’d been nominated for a Pride of Britain Award. I must say a massive thank you to those who nominated me!
“I’ve been fundraising for so long, it’s a very important part of my life, and I know my efforts are helping to make a difference to people who really need support. My wife Marilyn (Maz) is my rock; she also works as a domestic team leader for Pilgrims Hospices. I couldn’t have done most of the fundraising events without her, she’s always supportive and on hand and has joined me on many challenges including the London Marathon in 2018.
“I have some amazing memories, and incredible experiences from running 12k dressed as Penguins with Maz, to sportsmen’s dinners with celebrity guests, Peter Shilton and Frank Bruno.
“I’m currently undertaking a UK racecourse tour, visiting 41 different courses and planning to finish at Aintree in December; to date this has raised nearly £20,000.”
One particularly special memory would be Pilgrims bingo evenings when friends, supporters and colleagues came to the Ashford hospice community rooms to be part of the fun. On some occasions, patients and their families joined us to enjoy the entertainment. Over the six years of hospice bingo, it raised £35,000 for hospice care.
Gary
Gary fell very ill in 2007 and had major heart surgery at the William Harvey Hospital.
He said: “I owe them my life, and will always be grateful for their care, and for Maz and her quick reactions when contacting the doctors. Without her, the outcome could have been very different. After recovering, I was even more determined to continue to raise funds for important causes, and I’m inspired by so many people who achieve such great things. More recently I’ve become great friends with Bob Champion MBE/OBE who is so inspirational to cancer sufferers. Bob fought against cancer in 1979 and came back to win the greatest horse race in the world, the Grand National on Aldaniti in 1981, showing cancer can be beaten.
“One particularly special memory would be Pilgrims bingo evenings when friends, supporters and colleagues came to the Ashford hospice community rooms to be part of the fun. On some occasions, patients and their families joined us to enjoy the entertainment. Over the six years of hospice bingo, it raised £35,000 for hospice care.”
He added: “I’ve always worked in hands-on professions, my work at the hospice is full of problem-solving and I’m very proud to be part of such a great team.”
When Gary has time to relax, he enjoys spending time with his step daughters Charlotte and Kirsty and the grandchildren, some well-deserved nights out with his wife Maz and watching sport on TV.
Congratulations on your nomination Gary, you are truly an amazing fundraiser, we are all very proud of you here at Pilgrims Hospices.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. 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.
17th August 2022
Pilgrims Hospices Summer Fair beats the heat!
Despite the sweltering heat, hundreds of people attended Pilgrims Hospices’ annual Summer Fair on Saturday 13 August 2022, held at The Farriers Arms in Mersham, and showed their support for the local hospice charity.
Although Mother Nature didn’t play ‘fair’ on the day, as temperatures soared, people of all ages travelled from miles around in the hopes of winning prizes and bagging bargains.
Hospice staff and volunteers manned over 30 stalls, featuring games including the famous Bottle Tombola, Tin Can Alley, Paper Plane Game and Pilgrims Putting, which was new this year.
The 2022 Summer Fair was kindly sponsored by estate agents Andrew & Co, who had their own fundraising game to help raise additional funds. Faversham Ices also kindly sold ice creams – which were unsurprisingly popular on the day – donated by Consort, so that 100% of the sales went to the hospice.
Many local companies showed their support and donated towards the Grand Draw. Lifeboat Lettings donated a TV, the Wooplack Inn, Warehorne kindly gave a night’s stay and dinner for two, and the Kent Cookery School donated an evening course for two.
Barry and Laura Ash as Superman and Wonder Woman
Magician Geoff Partner amazed the crowds with his magic tricks, and husband and wife duo Barry and Laura Ash wowed visitors as Superman and Wonder Woman.
Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager for Ashford, Louise Newman, said: “We couldn’t be more grateful to all our supporters for going the extra mile and still volunteering or visiting on the day despite the extreme temperatures. As a local hospice, we are always so moved by the generosity of our communities. Whether people donated items or offered to lend a hand on the day, their kindness all adds up to make a huge difference for our patients.
Special thanks to Landlords Lindsey Best and John Hockley from The Farriers Arms who donated use of their field and supported the event from start to finish.
Over 70 volunteers joined forces before, during and after the event to ensure its success, and we are especially grateful for their ongoing support. On behalf of everyone who benefits from our services, may I say a huge thank you to all of the people who helped to make our Summer Fair possible.”
Pilgrims’ next fundraising event is the Folkestone Downs Challenge, a 36km hiking event designed to showcase the very best of Kent’s spectacular south coast, which will be held on Saturday 3 September.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
6th June 2022
Pilgrims Hospice Ashford needs your support for its Summer Fair
Pilgrims Hospices’ much-loved annual Summer Fair is back at The Farriers Arms in Mersham again this year and will be held on Saturday 13 August from 11am to 4pm.
This annual fair is a wonderful day and an amazing fundraiser for the hospice, but to make it possible requires an abundance of bottles, chocolates, prizes and much more.
Pilgrims is asking the local community to help out by donating any unopened bottles, from champagne to shampoo, chocolates, unwanted gifts, new craft items and new toys and games.
The success of the day is always down to the kindness of the local community, who every year have joined in with support and donated a great deal of items to make the day so enjoyable. Estate agents Andrew & Co are kindly sponsoring the fair and also holding donation points at their offices in Ashford, Cheriton and New Romney. The Beehive at 1-3 North Street, Ashford is also helping by holding a collection point. Alternatively, you can drop items into a collection box held outside the lower reception at the hospice site on Hythe Road, Ashford TN24 0NE.
There will be a wide range of traditional stalls to visit on the day with something for everyone and all ages. Afternoon teas will be on offer, games, crafts, tombolas and much more. There will also be a visit from a beautiful princess, a mesmerising magician, and a few superheroes will be flying in to help keep the children entertained.
There will be free parking in the field behind The Farriers Arms. Entry to the fair will be free, with donations welcomed.
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity that helps people facing incurable illness to live well in every moment, offering care and support for people where and when it’s needed. To do so, they need to raise £11 million each year from voluntary donations.
For more details about the fair, visit pilgrimshospices.org/summer-fair or contact the fundraising team:
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
27th April 2022
Barry’s super beard shave for Pilgrims Hospices
Barry Ash from Hawkinge, near Folkestone, set out to raise £5,000 for Pilgrims Hospices by completing a superhero-themed beard shave on Saturday 23 April 2022.
Barry with his mum, Carole
Barry is fundraising in memory of his mum, Carole, who was cared for at the Canterbury hospice in January 2022. Carole was from West Hougham, near Dover, where she lived with Barry’s dad, John.
Inspired by the support his family received, Barry wants to give back to the local charity so that others can benefit from its vital, compassionate care.
Barry said: “From the moment Mum was referred to Pilgrims, the care was outstanding – from pain management, to her personal care, including brushing her hair and teeth, to our care as a family. They spoke to us about what Mum was going through, and reassured us so we weren’t scared of what was going to happen. Staff were always on hand to answer any questions we had.
“I used to think that Pilgrims was just a place to die, but now I see a much bigger picture; they care for everyone, both patients and families, and so much more.”
Laura and Barry as Wonder Woman and Superman
Barry and his wife, Laura, love all things superheroes. To say thank you for the care Carole received, they organised a themed fundraiser – on Saturday 23 April 2022, Barry dressed as Superman and had his beard shaved off outside Get Ready Comics in Rochester. Paul Blakeborough, who owns the shop, and his team, helped to organise the day. Barry’s wife, Laura, joined him as Wonder Woman.
Barry continued: “This was a chance to raise money for Pilgrims, have some fun and bring smiles to people’s faces at the same time. Mum knew what we were planning; she loved the idea and we know she was smiling down on us on the day.
“We started off walking up and down the high street and the reactions were just awesome; not just from kids, but from their parents as well. Everyone wanted a picture with us! They asked what we were doing, and as soon as I said that we were raising money and awareness for Pilgrims everyone put their hands into their pockets and gave what they could. It was so nice.
“The beard shave started at 12:30; Shayne Kingham was the kind man who gave up his time to do the deed.”
Barry and Laura have raised £4,175 of his target thanks to the generosity of work clients, friends, family and members of the public, and his JustGiving page will remain open for further donations now that he has completed his challenge.
He hopes that alongside raising money, he has also increased awareness of Pilgrims’ services within the community.
Barry and Laura with Carole
He added: “They say that you remember people by how they made you feel. The staff and nurses at the Canterbury hospice left a long-lasting impression; we are full of gratitude and thankfulness for everything they did for us in the final stages of Mum’s illness.
“The kindness we were all shown in Mum’s last few days was phenomenal; it is something we will never forget.”
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of 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.
13th April 2022
Karen says a fond farewell to Pilgrims after 21-year hospice nursing career
Karen Mowat from Ashford has enjoyed a 21-year nursing career at Pilgrims Hospices.
She will leave her role as Senior Ward Sister at the Ashford hospice in April 2022.
Upon joining the charity in 2001, Karen worked as a palliative specialist nurse on the ward and also did some night shifts, supporting patients directly and answering the phones, before progressing to a leadership role.
She reflects fondly on her time at Pilgrims and shares what she has loved most about working for the local hospice charity.
Karen said: “I originally wanted to be a secondary school teacher, but when I was 17, my nan (who I was living with at the time) developed Motor Neurone Disease, so I unexpectedly became her carer whilst I was still at college.
“When she died, I had a rethink about what I wanted to do; I got a job in a nursing home and found that I really enjoyed caring for vulnerable people and feeling like I could make a difference to help improve their quality of life, so I applied to do my nurse training.”
For me, nursing has always been about showing compassion and empathy, and treating patients and families how I would want to be treated.
Karen
Karen qualified as a nurse in 1995; she worked in trauma and orthopaedics at Guy’s Hospital, London for several years, and then as a community nurse in Battersea where she developed an interest in palliative care.
She continued: “For me, nursing has always been about showing compassion and empathy, and treating patients and families how I would want to be treated. In the community, I looked after people with terminal illnesses in their own homes. We worked in collaboration with the local hospice, and I started to think that hospice nursing was what I wanted to do.”
When Karen and her husband, Ryan, moved to Ashford in February 2001, she heard that the Ashford hospice had recently opened and enquired about nursing vacancies. Shortly after, she was offered a post.
Karen said: “I am very privileged to be part of an amazing team of nurses on the in-patient unit, each of whom is committed to providing the best care possible for our patients. The team work really well together and are all so supportive of each other.
“We’re able to spend time with patients and their families to understand what is important to them, and we can then individualise the care we give, which makes our jobs so varied. I love the fact that each day is different – I never know what’s going to happen on a shift. Although obviously some days are very sad, there are also many days that are full of laughter – in fact, that’s one of things a lot of patients first notice when they arrive on the ward.”
Karen and her colleagues have faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some positives have come out of it, too.
She continued: “The worst thing, by far, was having to restrict visitors; to not be able to allow patients and families to be together at such an important time has been heartbreaking, and goes against everything we believe in as a hospice team.
“However, we’ve become closer and gained a deeper respect for each other because of the challenges we’ve faced. I know I speak for the whole nursing team at Ashford when I say we’re looking forward to opening up even more; being able to provide patients and families with that ‘something extra’ is what makes Pilgrims so special and different from other places.”
Although obviously some days are very sad, there are also many days that are full of laughter – in fact, that’s one of things a lot of patients first notice when they arrive
Karen
Karen is leaving Pilgrims to take on an office-based role working from home, which she hopes will help her achieve a better work-life balance. After having a stroke in 2019, she is keen to focus on maintaining good health. She hopes to return to Pilgrims in the future in an educational capacity or possibly doing occasional nursing shifts on the ward.
Kate White, Head of Nursing at Pilgrims Hospices, said: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Karen for the last four and a half years. She is the pinnacle of professionalism, compassion and patient-centred care. Nothing is too much trouble for her; she always goes above and beyond for her staff, patients and their families. She approaches everything with a can-do attitude and this has certainly rubbed off on her team.
“I know she will be greatly missed at Ashford, but she has come to this difficult decision for the right reasons. I will miss her attention to detail and her sense of humour, and would like to wish her all the very best in her new venture.”
Karen added: “I have truly loved my time at Pilgrims; we empower patients to be involved in decisions about their care to enable them to have the best quality of life they can.
“There are so many different teams within Pilgrims, but everyone ultimately works together to the same end – to ensure the people of east Kent benefit from vital services that are accessible, equitable and of the highest standard.”
We’re looking for people to join us in providing outstanding quality care and support to those who need it most.
If you’re interested in a nursing or care career at Pilgrims, we’d love to hear from you.
Check out our current vacancies for more information and apply today:
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. Care is provided from three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet, 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.
18th March 2022
“The Pilgrims ethos is special”: Nurse Clare retires after 21 years of caring service
Clare Stewart from Chartham joined Pilgrims Hospices as a staff nurse at the Ashford hospice when it opened in 2001. For 21 years, she has cared for patients and families at the most difficult time of their lives.
Now preparing to retire from her role, Clare reflects on her nursing career and palliative care journey.
As a teenager considering her career prospects, Clare wanted to be a physiotherapist, but ultimately she decided that nursing was the role for her.
She said: “I had a friend who was a nurse, and I was inspired by the stories she told me. I’m so glad I chose this path; now, I can’t imagine being anything other than a nurse.”
Clare completed her training at the South East Kent School of Nursing in January 1984, qualifying in 1987. Her first post was on a busy orthopaedic ward, but she developed an interest in surgery and gained a placement on the general surgical ward at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
It has been a privilege to care for patients and their families at such a difficult time in their lives. Being part of a multidisciplinary team is very rewarding; the high standard of nursing care we’re able to deliver has been so satisfying for me. I’ve really enjoyed making a positive difference to people in their time of need.
Clare
She continued: “As my surgical nursing experience widened, I became interested in palliative care. Being able to care holistically for patients and families really appealed to me. When the Ashford hospice opened, I joined as a staff nurse working night duty shifts. I also briefly worked as a community palliative nurse, which was valuable experience, but it made me realise that my passion was working on the in-patient unit.”
Reflecting on her time at Pilgrims, Clare shared what she has loved about being a Pilgrims nurse:
“Pilgrims has been like a family to me over the years; as a team, we’ve shared laughter, tears and all the emotions in between.
“It has been a privilege to care for patients and their families at such a difficult time in their lives. Being part of a multidisciplinary team is very rewarding; the high standard of nursing care we’re able to deliver has been so satisfying for me. I’ve really enjoyed making a positive difference to people in their time of need.
“The Pilgrims ethos is special, that’s why I’ve loved my time here and found it so fulfilling.”
Clare encapsulates everything that Pilgrims stands for; she is kind and caring, and always goes the extra mile to ensure our patients and their families get the best experience possible.
Karen Mowat, Senior Ward Sister at the Ashford hospice
Like so many healthcare workers, Clare has faced challenges working through a pandemic.
She said: “It’s been stressful. Initially, I felt scared about caring for COVID-positive patients. PPE has also been a barrier to communication, especially with patients who are hard of hearing.
“I remember the days where we were unable to have visitors at the hospice; for patients to die without their loved ones at their side was so upsetting. It was such a big contrast to our usual open-door attitude and that was hard to accept.”
But over the years within nursing generally, Clare has experienced first-hand how things have changed for the better.
She continued: “Patients are now treated as individuals; their needs, preferences and wishes are taken into account. Technology has also enhanced the care we’re able to deliver, making processes faster and more efficient.”
Karen Mowat, Senior Ward Sister at the Ashford hospice, said: “I have had the pleasure of working with Clare over the past 21 years. To me, Clare encapsulates everything that Pilgrims stands for; she is kind and caring, and always goes the extra mile to ensure our patients and their families get the best experience possible. She nurses with empathy and compassion, which means that patients and their loved ones receive the support and care they need.
“As well as being an incredible nurse, Clare has kept both staff and patients entertained over the years with her wicked sense of humour and ability to make people laugh, even at 3am! Clare is an integral part of the Ashford team and will be sorely missed by us all. I wish her every happiness in her retirement and hope she enjoys some well-deserved rest!”
Clare
Upon retiring, Clare plans to spend valuable time with loved ones and enjoy walks with the family dog, Olive. She is also a keen crafter and baker and has lots of creative projects on the horizon:
“We recently converted our daughter Alice’s old bedroom into a craft room, so I’m excited to get on with making cards, crocheting and trying out painting.
“I also have several cakes to make for birthdays and weddings. Our son, Matthew, is getting married soon and I’m making the cake! I’m also looking forward to doing a cake decorating course in the near future.”
We’re looking for people to join us in providing outstanding quality care and support to those who need it most.
If you’re interested in a nursing or care career at Pilgrims, we’d love to hear from you.
Check out our current vacancies for more information and apply today:
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. Care is provided from three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet, 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.
