Rob runs London Marathon for Pilgrims in memory of mum
Rob Maynard from Deal experienced Pilgrims Hospices’ care first-hand when his mum, Susan, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and received support from the charity at the end of her life.
To give back and say thank you, Rob will run the Virgin Money London Marathon for Pilgrims on Sunday 3 October 2021. He has already raised more than £3,000 of his £5,000 fundraising target, partly through completing the virtual London Marathon in October 2020.
Susan and Derek on their ruby wedding anniversary
Susan was married to Rob’s dad, Derek, for 49 years; they missed reaching their golden wedding anniversary by less than three months, but the family still mark special dates like this together. Originally from Portsmouth, the couple moved around for Derek’s job as a Customs Officer while Susan raised their young family: Kirsty, Neil and Rob. Susan taught at primary schools around Deal throughout the 1980s and 90s, before retiring together with Derek when they were both 51.
Rob said: “They worked hard to retire early because Mum had polycystic kidney disease (PKD), the same degenerative kidney condition that had limited her mum’s life. They wanted to make the most of their later years together, and they got to do the travelling they hadn’t been able to do with a young family now that we were grown up.
“They always enjoyed the simple pleasure of driving to the south of France to see the sunflowers in July; they were Mum’s favourite flower.”
Rob with his sunflower
Rob and his family also take part in Pilgrims’ annualSunflower Memories event, where they remember Susan with a sunflower memory marker in the hospice gardens.
As Susan’s kidney condition worsened, she required dialysis and the search for a donor began. Rob’s sister Kirsty was best placed to be her donor.
Rob added: “After receiving Kirsty’s donated kidney, Mum was frequently in hospital with various infections. All along, unbeknownst to us, MND was creeping up on her. We all did what we could to make her life as comfortable and fulfilled as possible.
“She went into hospital in October 2018 and was seldom home except for a week from Christmas eve to new year, which was amazing. We went to a Christingle service from my parents’ house, and when we returned an hour later, the ambulance had delivered her home – the best Christmas present!”
By January 2019, Susan’s condition had deteriorated and she was referred to Pilgrims.
Rob said: “Moving Mum from a hospital ward and into Pilgrims was the best course at that stage. Mum died in the Canterbury hospice on 22 January 2019, aged 71. My dad and one of her best friends were by her bedside.
“Before Mum went to Pilgrims, I didn’t know much about hospices, how they care for the whole family not just the patient. It was comforting to know she was in the best place for her complex needs. The fact my dad could stay overnight was a massive comfort and convenience, allowing him to spend as much time as possible with her before the inevitable.
To know that the care and dignity my mum received has and will be valued by so many other families in our local area makes Pilgrims, their staff and supporters very special and important.”
Rob
“The most important thing was that she could spend her remaining time in a peaceful environment with dignity. The care that Pilgrims staff gave Mum was personal and empathetic, allowing our family to enjoy the time we had left with her. It was also an opportunity to invite friends from far afield to see her and say goodbye. All the grandchildren saw her a few times in her last weeks at Pilgrims. This simply wouldn’t have been possible if she’d been on a hospital ward.
“From my perspective, Pilgrims provides the best possible end of life experience for the terminally ill, their friends and family. To know that the care and dignity my mum received has and will be valued by so many other families in our local area makes Pilgrims, their staff and supporters very special and important.”
Rob With Family L R Nadine Maynard Neil Maynard Kirsty Maynard Joel Maynard Derek Maynard Rob Maynard Georgia Holroyd Hannah Maynard Isaac Maynard
Rob was due to run the London Marathon for Pilgrims in April 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic meant this was postponed. Instead, he completed the virtual event in and around Deal in October 2020:
“I did this alone but on the same day as members of a local club, Deal Tri, which meant the support on the route was fabulous. It was all very muted at the finish due to the restrictions in place, but for that event in total I raised around £3,000.
“My close family are supporting me in giving back to Pilgrims and helping me achieve a lifelong ambition to run a marathon. Running for a great cause makes the pain of training worth it, and the event itself will be one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.”
Rob has also received generous donations from friends, customers and colleagues.
My marathon training itself has led to some very emotional times. On the big day this October, the thought of how proud my mum would be of me will keep me going.
Rob
He continued: “I’m choosing to fundraise for Pilgrims to help support the fabulous work they do for patients and families in east Kent. I’m sure everyone who is touched by them feels compelled to give something back.
“My marathon training itself has led to some very emotional times. On the big day this October, the thought of how proud my mum would be of me will keep me going. Ultimately, my mum’s passing at Pilgrims has its legacy in my love of running and the opportunity of running the London Marathon; for that, I will be eternally grateful.”
Inspired to follow in Rob’s footsteps and run the London Marathon for Pilgrims? Charity places for 2022 are available; apply here.
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.
5th August 2021
Jo and Jim’s journey supporting local hospice care
Reverend Jo Richards and husband Jim from Canterbury are keen supporters of Pilgrims Hospices; over the years, they have raised more than £1,600 for local hospice care.
As a priest and rector in the area, Jo often supports those approaching the end of life, and in 2012 she did her chaplaincy placement at Pilgrims.
The couple have also experienced first-hand Pilgrims’ holistic, compassionate services through loved ones cared for by the charity.
Jo and Jim at the Pilgrims Way Challenge 2021
In 2008, the couple’s close friend and their daughter Hannah’s godmother, Dawn Smith, died in the Canterbury hospice. Three years later, Jo’s grandmother, Mary Pocock, died in the Margate hospice.
Jo said: “I hold Pilgrims close to my heart, both personally and professionally. When Dawn died, that was the first time I had experienced the love, care and attention Pilgrims’ staff give to their patients. It just seemed different to anything I’d witnessed before. Then when my grandmother died, again the same level of care and compassion was offered to her and our family. One abiding memory is that she died just after her 95th birthday; on that occasion, her bed was wheeled into a room where the whole family gathered around her and we celebrated with food and a cake – a memory to cherish forever.
“More recently, as the local priest, I have been called to offer bedside prayers and last rites to those who are close to the end; again, nothing is ever too much trouble for the Pilgrims team. Likewise, through members of our congregation I have seen first-hand what the Hospice at Home service means to those who wish to die at home.
“The whole hospice movement, from its inauguration in 1967 at St Christopher’s Hospice in London by Dame Cicely Saunders, resonates with me. I really believe in its philosophy, enabling someone to have a ‘good death’ along with the love, support and care given to the family.”
Jim added: “Pilgrims is an important part of our east Kent community, offering a connection to people from all walks of life when they need it the most. I’m keen to support a local charity, and I admire the work of the hospice movement in providing the best care and experience for those with terminal illnesses, and the support it provides to their families and friends.”
In 2019, Jo and Jim completed the Pilgrims Way Challenge, choosing the 35km route from Canterbury to Dover. They took part again in 2021, this time walking the longest distance – 55km from Wye to Dover. Jim will undertake the Cycle Challenge for a second time on Sunday 22 August 2021. During lockdowns, the couple completed the Walk the Underground virtual hike and Jim is currently doing the UK End to End Virtual Cycle.
Jo continued: “My passion is walking, and to get fit for the 55km was a real challenge; the 35km route was manageable, so we wanted to push ourselves to go further. It was a personal challenge and to do it for the hospices, to raise awareness and support them, was the very least we could do. We’ve had support from family, friends and the congregations in Canterbury of the three churches I’m responsible for: St Dunstan’s, St Mildred’s and St Peter’s. The event organisation was incredible all the way through – the welcome from volunteers was lovely and the food along the way was excellent. We very much want to do it again next year.
“Pilgrims offer an invaluable service. It is a resource available to us all, and therefore should be funded by us all. It’s the least we can do to help support it financially.”
Main image taken by Andrew Hastings.
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.
28th July 2021
Kathleen’s London Marathon journey for Pilgrims Hospices
Kathleen Neame (49) from Whitstable knows from experience about the vital end-of-life care Pilgrims Hospices provides across east Kent. To give back and say thank you, she will run the Virgin Money London Marathon for Pilgrims on Sunday 3 October 2021 in memory of her dad, John Richard Smith, and her friend, Lisa Goldsworthy.
Kathleen with her dad
John was cared for by Pilgrims in 2008 and died aged 63. Lisa was cared for by the charity in 2019 and died aged 49.
Kathleen said:
“My main experience of Pilgrims was with my dad. It’s hard to put into words how grateful we were to have the hospice in our lives at such a terribly difficult time. The care given to Dad and all our family was second to none; we were treated with dignity and kindness at all times, and Dad felt safe and very relaxed there. As a family, we were given so much support both before and after he died.
“Every year, we attend Pilgrims’ Trees of Loveservice at Christmas and this is where I feel closest to my dad.
“Pilgrims will always have a huge place in my heart. I will always be grateful that we were able to make the most of those precious last days of my dad’s life.”
Kathleen has already raised more than £2,000 for Pilgrims by running the Canterbury 10 Mile Road Raceand the London Vitality Big Half. The London Marathon will be her first marathon and her biggest challenge yet, and it takes place just three days before her 50th birthday. She continued:
“I ran the London Vitality Big Half in 2020; it was an amazing experience from start to finish. This year, I’m doing something I said I would never do and that is run the London Marathon. It’s a huge challenge for me but one I feel grateful to be able to undertake in memory of loved ones and as a thank you to Pilgrims.
“So many people have had positive experiences of Pilgrims, it’s a local charity close to many peoples’ hearts. Pilgrims’ care meant so much to my dad and our family, and I want to help to make sure that this vital resource is available for others in the future.”
Kathleen is being supported in her fundraising by family, friends and colleagues. She also organised a car boot fair to boost her sponsorship. She added:
“By undertaking this marathon journey I wish to remind people how important Pilgrims is and to raise as much money as I possibly can. This is and will continue to be an incredible experience that I’m so privileged to be able to take part in, and I am going to cherish it as much as I can.”
Inspired to follow in Kathleen’s footsteps and run the London Marathon for Pilgrims? Charity places for 2022 are available; apply here.
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.
1st July 2021
Sandi’s London Marathon for running buddies and Pilgrims Hospices
Sandi Starling from Ashford will take on the Virgin Money London Marathon for Pilgrims Hospices on Sunday 3 October 2021. She is a volunteer run leader for Hamstreet Runners, and is raising money in memory of fellow group member, Mark Hinson, and the spouses of two others who were all cared for by Pilgrims.
Sandi has already raised more than £1,200 for hospice care across east Kent, aiming to reach her £2,000 fundraising target before the big day.
Mark after winning his age category for Hamstreet Runners at Wittersham 5-mile run in 2016
In 2020, during lockdown, Mark was diagnosed with kidney cancer and died within three months. Sandi said:
“It was a massive shock to all of us, not least his wife, Belinda, and daughter, Anna, who are also members of our running group. Mark was a lovely man and a really helpful runner; he always took the time to help others. Many of us are still getting over his sudden loss.
“Belinda told me how lovely Pilgrims staff were when they cared for Mark in his final days, especially during the difficult situation with COVID. They made sure that Belinda and Anna could talk to Mark on the phone and video call when visiting was restricted.”
Two other group members – Ian Kirby and Julie Buckland – experienced Pilgrims’ care when their spouses, Nicky and Guy, spent time in the Ashford hospice at the end of their lives. Both spoke very highly of the care that Nicky and Guy received.
Ian said: “Nicky spent her last days in a quiet room at the hospice. The care and sensitivity shown by staff was such a help at a very dark and traumatic time. They do incredible work in very difficult circumstances, and they deserve our gratitude and support.”
I’m running in Mark’s memory, to say thank you to all the Pilgrims team who made his very last days the best they could be. I want people to realise that the hospice is a fantastic place and be aware of the services it provides.
Sandi
Sandi continued: “To have had two runners lose their spouses was awful for them, but as a running group the loss of Mark really hit us. We are so grateful for what Pilgrims did for him.
“Due to COVID, we couldn’t attend Mark’s funeral or do anything to celebrate his life. Our running group stood on the village green as he made his final journey, all wearing our running tops to say our goodbyes, but I wanted to do more. Running the London Marathon for Pilgrims will be a perfect way to honour Mark, raising money for the charity that helped him when he needed it most. Although he would have been able to run those 26.2 miles in half the time I will!”
Ian and Nicky
Sandi has run marathons before but this year’s London Marathon will be a very special event. She is being supported in her fundraising by family and friends, and is planning a coffee morning where people can pay to run and eat cake afterwards.
She added: “I’m running in Mark’s memory, to say thank you to all the Pilgrims team who made his very last days the best they could be. I want people to realise that the hospice is a fantastic place and be aware of the services it provides. One of my current runners, Charlotte Davies, is a Pilgrims nurse, and I often say to her that people who give end-of-life care are heroes.”
Sandi
Charlotte said: “The ability to continue providing high quality end-of-life care that is free to patients and their relatives is imperative. As a nurse, I see first-hand what it does for people. Home visits, accessing physio, occupational therapy and counselling support; all this enables people to try and live with as much quality as possible. I’m sometimes asked if Pilgrims services are free, and people are surprised to learn that there is no cost to them.
“Fundraising like Sandi’s is vital to Pilgrims; it helps ensure we can continue reaching the people who need us.”
Sandi continued: “It won’t be fast or pretty, and who knows what it will be like on the actual day with restrictions, but I’m determined to run those 26.2 miles. All the way round I’ll be thinking: “Mark would run this twice as fast as me but would stay with me if I needed help.”
“I’ll be motivated knowing that he’ll be with me somewhere when the going gets tough, saying: “You didn’t need to do this for me”, but I wanted to do something and this is it.”
Inspired to follow in Sandi’s footsteps and run the London Marathon for Pilgrims? Charity places for 2022 are available; apply here.
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.
25th June 2021
Hospice nurse Charlotte runs seaside Brighton Marathon for Pilgrims
Charlotte Davies (35) from Ashford is a community Palliative Specialist Nurse at Pilgrims Hospices, so she witnesses first-hand the positive impact Pilgrims’ care has across east Kent.
As a keyworker, Charlotte has continued to work on the frontline throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but her support for the charity doesn’t stop there. On 12 September 2021, she will run the Brighton Marathon to raise vital funds for Pilgrims and help ensure its services remain free to all those who need them.
Charlotte in her Pilgrims uniform
Charlotte worked in intensive care before joining Pilgrims in 2014; initially a community nurse, she changed roles to work as the Ward Sister for one year. After maternity leave, she returned to Pilgrims as a community nurse, a role that she enjoys immensely.
Charlotte completed a degree in End of Life Care in 2015 and began an MSc in Palliative and End of Life Care in 2019.
She said: “As a Pilgrims community nurse, I’m privileged to visit people in their own homes. We provide holistic care, including symptom management advice, psycho-social support and referrals to both internal and external services. Being able to continue providing high quality end-of-life care to people in east Kent is imperative. Pilgrims services are free, and fundraising ensures that we can keep offering them.
“So many people are kind enough to take time out from their busy lives to raise money to ensure our patients and relatives continue to receive the care they need.”
Charlotte originally planned to run the Brighton Marathon as her first ever marathon, but then COVID hit and the event was postponed – first to April 2021 and then to October 2021. So instead, her debut marathon was the Kent Spring Marathon in October 2020, which she also ran in aid of Pilgrims.
Being able to continue providing high quality end-of-life care to people in east Kent is imperative. Pilgrims services are free, and fundraising ensures that we can keep offering them.
Charlotte
As part of her fundraising for Brighton, Charlotte is selling colourful memory ribbons; these are being sewn to her Pilgrims vest, which she will wear on marathon day, and each one will have written on it the name of someone who has died. Anyone can purchase a memory ribbon, and they are not only for people who have been cared for by Pilgrims.
Charlotte’s memory ribbons
Charlotte said: “My aim is to run in memory of people, regardless of who they were or where and when they died – for example, four ribbons are for my grandparents who weren’t cared for by Pilgrims. They are a visual reminder of who I’m running for. This makes it all the more personal for me; I will be honoured to run in memory of so many people and when the going gets tough over 26.2 miles, I’ll be reminded why I’m running.
“If someone would like a ribbon, they can donate via my JustGiving page and tell me the name to go on it by leaving a comment when they donate. I’ve suggested a minimum donation of £3 per ribbon, but people have been giving more than that, which is lovely! Any amount is much appreciated.”
Lydia Todd, Challenge Events Fundraiser, said: “Charlotte has been waiting so long to run Brighton Marathon and I can’t wait to finally see her cross the finish line and receive her well-deserved medal. Charlotte’s idea to run in memory of people, by carrying their memory ribbon with her, is truly heart-warming. It’s turning her fundraising, and personal challenge, into a community event and it’s amazing to see people come out to support her efforts in full force. We’re proud to have her as a member of #TeamPilgrims!”
Charlotte added: “People can sometimes be surprised to learn that Pilgrims’ services are free. Through fundraising, we can help ensure that they remain accessible to all those who need palliative care and support in east Kent.”
You can keep up to date with the Charlotte’s fundraising journey and purchase memory ribbons on her JustGiving page.
Inspired to follow in Charlotte’s footsteps and run the Brighton Marathon for Pilgrims? Charity places are available; register here by 5 August 2021.
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.
31st May 2021
Brakes team take on epic cycle for Pilgrims Hospices
The team work for Brakes, the Ashford-based food service supplier.
They chose to support their local hospice charity as each knows of the vital care it provides through family and friends. Dan’s mother-in-law, Anne-Marie Wells, and Harrison’s dad, Paul O’Brien, were both cared for by Pilgrims. Anne-Marie and Paul would have each celebrated their 60th birthdays on 1 and 2 June 2021 respectively, so the team’s fundraising target of £6,000 has been set to commemorate these milestone events.
I’d never been in a hospice before so I thought it would be a sad and gloomy place, but I was so wrong. The staff were excellent, the two lounges were lovely and spacious and loved ones were made to feel incredibly welcome
Dan
Dan, from Hawkinge near Folkestone, experienced Pilgrims’ care when Anne-Marie spent time in the Ashford hospice in 2018-19. He said:
“The care she received was fantastic. Whenever Ann-Marie needed anything, the staff were more than willing to assist, nothing was too much trouble. Her last Christmas was spent in the hospice; being able to sit round the table in the fantastic new family lounge, trying to treat it as a normal Christmas Day, meant a lot. We were able to shower, stay over and have hot meals. I was even allowed to work remotely at required times whilst being by my wife’s side.
Anne-Marie with her daughter and Dan’s wife, Hannah
“I’d never been in a hospice before so I thought it would be a sad and gloomy place, but I was so wrong. The staff were excellent, the two lounges were lovely and spacious and loved ones were made to feel incredibly welcome.
“Seeing it first-hand has made me aware of the fantastic work Pilgrims do, and I want to continue raising money for them in future.”
Harrison, from River, Dover, also shared his experience:
Harrison’s dad, Paul
“My dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung and brain cancer in late January 2021. This was a huge shock to our family, it changed our lives dramatically. Pilgrims gave us such excellent support – they offered emotional and practical advice, taught us techniques related to caring for Dad and arranged equipment to make him as comfortable as possible.
“They look after the whole family’s wellbeing, just having them at the end of the phone was such a big help. Pilgrims nurses are true heroes who make sure that you don’t feel alone. They really do make a huge difference. Before my dad became ill, I wasn’t aware of the top quality care Pilgrims provide. They are a fantastic organisation and I will never forget what they’ve done for us.”
“My dad sadly passed on 11 April 2021. He felt extremely comfortable in the hospice, and I can’t thank Pilgrims enough for the care they provided. They were absolutely brilliant.
“They looked after him, fed him, washed him and made him feel as close to home as was possible – I will never forget that. Pilgrims helped our family when we really needed it; they will always have a special place in my heart.”
Pilgrims nurses are true heroes who make sure that you don’t feel alone. They really do make a huge difference.
Harrison
On Saturday 5 June 2021, the team will ride to all 20 league football grounds within London, cycling an overall distance of 250km. They hope to raise vital funds for Pilgrims and increase awareness about hospice services available across east Kent.
Dan, Daniel and Harrison
Dan said: “We’ve chosen to support Pilgrims so they can continue their great work offering compassionate end-of-life care to patients and families. We’re really looking forward to our cycle challenge, it will be tough but so worth it.”
Harrison added: “I’ve experienced first-hand the care that Pilgrims provide. They need all the help they can get in order to continue delivering this amazing support. I simply hope that the money we raise will enable Pilgrims to offer other families the care ours received.
“Pilgrims help make that last bit of time as special as it can be, so if the money we raise helps to continue that service then that’s the least we can do for such a good cause.”
Deirdre Mewse, Community Fundraising Officer at Pilgrims, said: “It is wonderful that Harrison, Daniel and Dan are taking part in such an epic journey in aid of Pilgrims Hospices. The sights of 20 football grounds, as well as the amazing places they pass on the way, will hopefully sustain them in their 250km journey. We would like to say a huge thank you for their support and wish them strong legs and every success on the day.”
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.
