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
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.
5th November 2021
New online Christmas auction for Pilgrims Hospices
Pilgrims Hospices will be holding a new online auction this festive season to help raise money for hospice care across east Kent.
There are over 60 fantastic lots to bid on to help raise money for people facing a life limiting illness. There’s a huge selection of items on offer, including:
Overnight stays
Days out
Perfume
Hampers
Vouchers
Games
Ladies accessories
Gifts
Plus many more!
The auction will run for three weeks going live on Friday 12 November 2021 and will close on Friday 3 December 2021. Bidding couldn’t be more accessible or easier by going to: jumblebee.co.uk/pilgrimshospiceschristmasauction
Ashford Fundraising Manager, Louise Newman said: “It’s the perfect opportunity to buy Christmas presents for loved ones or treat yourself to something, knowing all the money raised will be helping us care for our patients and their families.”
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.
4th November 2021
Tom’s memorial golf day continues to raise vital funds for hospice care
Tom Coker from Ramsgate held the ninth Graham Coker Memorial Golf Day at St. Augustine’s Golf Club, Cliffsend, Ramsgate, in August 2021, raising an incredible £4,000 for Pilgrims Hospices care.
Tom’s golf day was held in memory of his father, Graham.
For the last three or four years the money raised has been donated to Pilgrims, during that time, the event has raised an amazing £7,894 in support of local hospice care.
Tom said: “The Graham Coker Cup started after we sadly lost my dad in 2012. The idea to hold a memorial golf day was started by some of his friends who he played golf with at St. Augustine’s.
“In the first year, we had just 15 players; it’s grown from strength to strength, this year we had 103 golfers teeing off.”
Karen Kenward, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager said: “This really is a huge achievement by everyone who has supported the event from 2012 to 2021. Tom, his family, friends, supporters and the venue itself are so supportive of our charity, it’s really been lovely to see this event grow each year. Tom is already working on a date for next year.
This generous donation will enable us to help provide vital services for those who need our care in the future. Thank you from all of us at Pilgrims Hospices.”
We have all been affected one way or another and can’t tell you how much we appreciate Pilgrims Hospices. They really do the most amazing work and all my family and friends are more than happy to help as much as we can, we feel their services are invaluable to people when they’re at their lowest ebb.
Tom
Tom, who owns a local building and carpentry firm, said: “I would like to thank all the people who supported this special day. To all the players (new and old), the people who kindly donated prizes to the competition and raffle, and the staff at St. Augustine’s Golf Club for their help and support to organise this great day.”
As the event has grown, Tom has been able to add to the event with prizes for the top 10 players with the best individual score and a team game involving turns to finish the hole with a pink ball.
The top 3 teams with the best score and managing to get the pink ball back to the clubhouse without losing it also win prizes. With nearest to the pin and longest drive holes to keep the golfers challenged.
Tom added: “We had wonderful donations from friends and family including cash, drinks, jewellery and giant teddies. We even had a washing machine one year.
“The BBQ was ready for players when they got off the course, with all the meat kindly donated by Hogman’s our local butchers.
“After the golfers’ prize giving, we held the raffle for the wonderful donated prices, a pretty eventful and charitable day!
“We have all been affected one way or another and can’t tell you how much we appreciate Pilgrims Hospices. They really do the most amazing work and all my family and friends are more than happy to help as much as we can, we feel their services are invaluable to people when they’re at their lowest ebb.”
Pilgrims Hospices care for more than 2,500 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.
22nd October 2021
NHS team get colourful for local hospice care in memory of colleague Trish
On 26 September 2021, laughter and colourful powder paint filled the air in Palm Bay, Cliftonville as hundreds walked, jogged and ran the Thanet 5k Colour Run to raise vital funds for Pilgrims Hospices. Amongst them were a team from the cardiology department at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT), who took part in memory of their much-loved colleague, Trish Penman.
The team has raised almost £1,000 to help ensure that Pilgrims’ holistic, compassionate services continue to be available to people across east Kent who are living with a terminal illness.
Trish
Trish worked at the QEQM, Kent and Canterbury and William Harvey hospitals in cardiology, respiratory and A&E. She was 49 when she diagnosed with advanced cancer in November 2020, and was supported by Pilgrims at the end of her life; she died in the Thanet hospice on 31 July 2021.
Catherine Goult, Chief Cardiac Physiologist at EKHUFT, said:
“Trish was known and loved around the Trust for her smile, her twerking, her generosity of spirit and her phenomenal work ethic. When she was diagnosed, she made her wish known that she would like to spend her final days in Pilgrims Hospices; she felt it was somewhere she and her two boys could be cared for and supported at that time.”
Catherine
Catherine and her colleagues decided to enter the Thanet 5k Colour Run so that Pilgrims’ vital services can continue to be offered to those who need them in the future. They have been supported in their fundraising by many kind people, and aim to plan a few more fundraising activities to reach their £1,000 target.
She continued: “It was moving to be at the start with so many other people whose lives had also been touched by Pilgrims; reading the messages on their numbers and t-shirts made it clear that everyone was there for a reason close to their heart. It was a great way to celebrate the life of our friend because the day was filled with laughter and colour! We loved seeing people’s costumes, too.
“Trish would have loved the warm-up because she loved music and dancing and was so energetic. The atmosphere was great and everyone was just having fun. The colour cannons made sure that we all finished fully covered in powder paint!
“From the registration process through to the marshals on the day and the very welcome packet of crisps at the end (best crisps I’ve ever had!), at every point everyone was so kind. It made us feel proud that we’d achieved something together in Trish’s memory; the medals are also really unique and quirky, they’re a great souvenir of the day.”
Pilgrims means a lot to us because death is something that we will all have to face at some point. It can be a frightening time, but Pilgrims can take away some of the fear and pain; they can alleviate suffering and bring humanity, dignity and even joy into those final days.
Catherine
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “It was lovely to welcome Catherine and her colleagues to support this year’s Thanet Colour Run. This event always brings so much fun, laugher and colour to all who join it each year. It’s just wonderful to see so many people come together to support our charity in such a joyous way, and in turn help raise incredible funding for the next person who needs us. Thank you all so very much and enjoy your well-earned medals with pride; we hope to see you next year.”
Catherine added:
“Pilgrims was there for Trish and her family at the hardest time they’ve ever had to face. Trish was given comfort and dignity during the final days of her life.
“Pilgrims means a lot to us because death is something that we will all have to face at some point. It can be a frightening time, but Pilgrims can take away some of the fear and pain; they can alleviate suffering and bring humanity, dignity and even joy into those final days. The hospice is a sanctuary that helps us to focus on the present and live each moment.”
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.
21st October 2021
Paul and Alfie go the distance for local hospice care
On Sunday 22 August 2021, Paul Maxted and his son, Alfie, from Ashford cycled 50 miles around east Kent, raising more than £700 for local hospice care.
They wanted to support Pilgrims Hospices after the charity cared for two family members – Paul’s dad, Robert (Bob) John Maxted, and his father-in-law, Roger (Rog) Thomas Bent.
It has been an emotionally challenging year for the family; Bob passed away aged 69 years on 27 June 2021, and Rog died shortly after, aged 74, on 18 July 2021.
Robert (Bob) Maxted
Paul said: “Following long battles with terminal illnesses, we lost my father to cancer and Rog to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) within three weeks of each other; it was devastating, to say the least. The most painful part was watching them both succumb to these terrible illnesses as my wife and I provided care and support. We were lucky to have two such wonderful, loving and inspirational role models in our lives, and we gain some comfort in knowing we carry them in our hearts and thoughts for eternity.
“Pilgrims cared for my dad and Rog both on the hospice ward and at home at the end of their lives. They were superb, providing equipment, personal care and support to them and our family. The staff showed real empathy and understanding; they were never too busy to take a call or give us time to understand what was happening, all the way until the end.”
Roger (Rog) Bent
To give back and say thank you, Paul and his son Alfie decided to take on the Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge to ensure that other families continue to benefit from local hospice care.
Paul added: “I’m a keen footballer and runner but cycling isn’t my choice of activity! So this was a real challenge for me (and my rear end). I’m so grateful for the support we’ve received from family and friends; any donation, no matter how big or small, is hugely appreciated.
“Pilgrims made a very sad time easier for both my dad and Rog during their battles, giving us as a family a small piece of comfort knowing that they did not suffer. We want to support Pilgrims so that more people can receive the level of empathy and care we did, both now and in the future.”
You can still sponsor Paul and Alfie now that they have completed their challenge by visiting their JustGiving page.
Inspired to get on your bike and fundraise for Pilgrims?
Cycle Challenge returns on Sunday 1 May 2022; register your interest today:
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.
