This year, Pilgrims Hospices welcomed over 1,200 people to their Trees of Love remembrance services, held throughout December 2021, at the hospices in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet, and at indoor venues in New Romney, River, Cheriton, Charing and Barham.
Those remembering lost loved ones this Christmas dedicated doves to hang on the trees at each venue, or at home, to be illuminated throughout the festive season. All were then invited to join together to share their memories at the event or service of their choosing, where they enjoyed carol singing and warm mince pies.
This year also marks an incredible achievement for east Kent’s largest remembrance services, as Ellie Cane, Individual Giving Officer, explains:
“This very important remembrance service has been running for more than 20 years, and in that time we are pleased to say that we have just reached the milestone of raising over £1 million for the hospices! We’d like to thank all those who’ve supported this appeal over the years, and also to our incredible volunteers who help us make it happen each and every year.”
Pilgrims partnered once again this year with Firmager Funeral Directors, All Souls Church and School, St Peter and St Paul Church, and the Westerleigh Group to put on these very special events, allowing more people in east Kent who have lost loved ones to attend.
Ellie added: “The response to the appeal has been incredible, and we want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has dedicated a dove so far this year, and on previous years. Your support has meant we can continue to be still here, still caring even during difficult times.”
Pilgrims will continue to take donations for dedicated doves across the festive season. Contact their Supporter Relations Team on 01227 782 062 or visit pilgrimshospices.org/treesoflove to donate and dedicate a dove.
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.
10th November 2021
Trees of Love returns to light up east Kent
This year, local charity Pilgrims Hospices sees the return of the Trees of Love remembrance events at its three hospices and at alternative venues across east Kent.
The largest festive remembrance to take place in east Kent has been running for over 20 years, and raised over £970,000 for the charity to date.
Ellie Cane, who is part of the team behind Trees of Love, said:
“We are so amazed at the amount our local community has raised by taking part in Trees of Love for all these years, and this year we’re really hoping that with their help we can reach £1 million. This would be such an incredible achievement, and I would like to take this chance to say a huge thank you in advance to all those who will be joining us for the remembrance this December.”
The remembrance will begin with the release of a filmed service on the Pilgrims Hospices’ YouTube channel and website on Saturday 4 December at 12pm. This replaces the usual live service performed at the three hospices in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet. Guests are then invited to drop in to the hospices between 4pm and 6pm on the same day to find their dedicated dove, whilst enjoying carol singing and warm mince pies.
Ellie continued:
“On behalf of everyone at Pilgrims, I would like to encourage anyone who has lost someone to join with us to remember by dedicating a beautiful dove in memory of their loved ones. To take part, contact our Supporter Relations team, and we will send a dove out to you to decorate with your personal message. We will place your beautiful dove on the trees at your chosen site, to remain illuminated throughout the festive season.”
Pilgrims Hospices’ Trees of Love remembrances will be held in the gardens of each hospice at Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet on Saturday 4 December 2021, between 4pm and 6pm. Pilgrims also host alternative services at other venues in Barham, Charing, Cheriton, Dover and New Romney.
If you would like to take part to join with others to remember your loved ones and mark this special occasion, or for more information, contact Pilgrims’ Supporter Relations team on 01227 782 062 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.
Supporters hot-foot it for Pilgrims Hospices this bonfire season!
Pilgrims Hospices sponsored Firewalk series returned for its sixth year over the bonfire season and saw almost 90 brave supporters face their fears to conquer the coals. The annual event challenges people to walk barefoot over red-hot wood embers measuring 800 degrees and raise much-needed funds for Pilgrims’ specialist, end-of-life care!
The daring dash took place in three locations across east Kent – in Ashford on 29 October, Canterbury on 30 October and Broadstairs on 6 November – and is expected to raise more than £12,000 for the local hospice charity with more sponsorship to follow.
A total of 932 Pilgrims supporters have taken on the ‘hottest, shortest sponsored walk in the world’ since 2016 to raise a staggering £210,358 for those living with an incurable illness in our community.
Robert Grew, Pilgrims Events Manager, said: “It was fantastic to see so many supporters, quite literally, stepping out of their comfort zone to brave the barefoot firewalk for Pilgrims Hospices. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and faced their fear to raise vital funds for the care of patients in our local community. You’ve followed in the toasted footsteps of more than 900 Pilgrims supporters before you and certainly earned your place in the Hall of Flame!”
Motivational speaker and firewalk specialist Cliff Mann, held a training seminar for participants before they stepped out to face the flames.
Cliff said: “Firewalking is a huge personal challenge, I’ve been teaching people the skills for more than 30 years now. It’s great to be back and empowering Pilgrims supporters to take on the hottest, shortest sponsored walk in the world. It’s always a great pleasure to help charities raise vital funds while helping people to achieve something truly life changing.”
Chris Laming Westbrook (Margate) 1
Robert added: “We’d like to thank our services team at the Ashford hospice for making it possible to hold our event in the hospice grounds; the University of Kent Sport for hosting us in Canterbury, and our latest venue for Firewalk, Thanet Wanderers Rugby Club at Broadstairs, for making us welcome and giving everyone a very special night to remember.
“Sponsorship money will continue to come in for some time yet, we will be able to announce a final figure around the festive season.”
There are some great challenges and events on Pilgrims Hospices website: pilgrimshospices.org/events. Why not take a look and help Pilgrims Hospices reach even more people who need our specialist care?
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.
12th October 2021
Hospice nurse retires after almost 50 years of caring service
Sue Clark from Canterbury has enjoyed a long career in nursing; starting out as a children’s nurse, she then moved to caring for elderly patients. Finally, Sue spent the last 15 years of her career at Pilgrims Hospices, supporting adults approaching the end of life.
Now, aged 65, she is looking forward to retirement with a sense of gratitude and appreciation that has come from working with hospice patients.
Originally from Bracknell, Berkshire, at 16 years old Sue became a nursing cadet. She trained in orthopaedic and general nursing at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children, qualifying in 1978.
Sue moved to east Kent with her best friend from nursing school, whose father managed the local cottage hospitals and got Sue a job at Herne Hospital. She also worked at Nunnery Fields Hospital in Canterbury, and further afield in south-east London, before moving to Kent and Canterbury Hospital in the 1990s.
She said: “I initially wanted to be an air stewardess! But I really loved caring for people and became interested in children’s nursing. It’s funny – I started out working with children and ended up at the other side of life.”
At Pilgrims, we care for the patient and the whole family. It’s not like in hospital; we can get involved, we have the time to get to know families.
Sue
In between, Sue did some community nursing work with Marie Curie, supporting patients with terminal illnesses. This was her first experience of working in palliative care, and in 2006 she joined Pilgrims as a Registered General Nurse (RGN).
In 2019, she gave up her registration and spent her last two years of service working as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA).
Sue continued: “At Pilgrims, we care for the patient and the whole family. It’s not like in hospital; we can get involved, we have the time to get to know families. We’re also able to provide aftercare for loved ones, too.
“I love being hands on with basic nursing care, and the HCA role enabled me to do even more of this so I really enjoyed it.”
Working at Pilgrims, you realise that life is so short. I just want to enjoy retirement with my husband and make the most of every moment.
Sue
Kate White, Head of Nursing at Pilgrims, said: “To dedicate 50 years to nursing is a huge achievement and shows strength of character. I cannot imagine how many patients and their families have been cared for by Sue in all this time!
“We wish her all the very best for a well-deserved retirement and thank her for her commitment to Pilgrims.”
Now that she has retired, Sue is looking forward to catching up with friends, spending time with family and planning a few mini-breaks.
She added: “Working at Pilgrims, you realise that life is so short. I just want to enjoy retirement with my husband and make the most of every moment.”
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 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.
18th August 2021
Pilgrims Garden Festival brought summer fun for all the family
On Sunday 15 August 2021, Pilgrims Hospices hosted a brand-new event within the stunning grounds of Mount Ephraim, Faversham.
The Pilgrims Garden Festival brought local food and drink producers, plant sellers and crafters together in the market area celebrating local businesses from across east Kent.
With something for everyone, people of all ages came along to shop and discover everything from plants, flowers and local wines to hand-made jewellery and textile plant pots! When the shopping was finished, visitors enjoyed a game or two on the coconut shy or tombola before relaxing in the tea party with a cream tea or slice of cake.
Visitors were left inspired after watching The Nightingale Garden demo on how to create a beautiful hand-tied bouquet, followed by a wine tasting hosted by Clive from Corkk – the English wine specialists.
Canterbury Community Fundraising Manager Leila Ilkhan said: “We are delighted that our first ever Pilgrims Garden Festival was enjoyed so much by visitors, volunteers and local businesses. After so long not being able to hold events, it was great to welcome the community to come together to support their local hospice.”
The day finished with a magic show for all the family hosted by Stuart Weller Magic that left visitors marvelling over his tricks.
A big thank you to our headline sponsors Canterbury Suzuki and to all the other local businesses and volunteers who helped make this event such a huge success, raising nearly £9,500 in vital funds for Pilgrims Hospices.
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.
16th July 2020
Mad Hair Day for Hospice Care!
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.
