Pilgrims Hospices Charity Golf event raises over £10,300 for Hospice Care
In a day filled with golf, sunshine, and heartfelt speeches, the Pilgrims Hospices Charity Golf Day at Canterbury Golf Club on September 15, 2023, was a resounding success, raising more than £10,300 for hospice care.
The event, featuring a shotgun start, brought together 18 teams of four enthusiastic golfers, all teeing off with a shared goal in mind: to support Pilgrims Hospices in their mission to provide essential care and support for individuals with life-limiting illnesses.
Under the warm and glorious weather, participants showcased their golfing prowess while contributing to a cause close to their hearts. The picturesque Canterbury Golf Club served as the perfect backdrop for a day filled with camaraderie and charitable spirit.
The highlight of the event was the heartfelt speeches delivered by distinguished guests. The Lord Mayor of Canterbury graced the occasion with her presence and expressed her gratitude to the event organisers and participants for their unwavering support of hospice care in the community. CEO Helen Bennett also took the stage, offering words of appreciation for everyone involved, emphasising the vital role Pilgrims Hospices plays in providing comfort and care to those in need.
We are delighted that this year’s golf day has raised more than £10,300 – our best one yet!
Leila – Pilgrims
“The success of this charity golf event is a testament to the incredible generosity and community spirit that exists within our community,” said Helen Bennett, CEO of Pilgrims Hospices. “The funds raised today will make a significant difference in our ability to provide quality hospice care to those who rely on our services.”
The day’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the support of sponsors, including this year’s headline sponsors, Bauvill, volunteers, and the enthusiastic participants. Every swing of the golf club and every donation contributed to the overall success of the event and the advancement of hospice care in east Kent.
Event Organiser Leila Ilkhan Pilgrims Corporate and Trusts Partnerships Manager said: “We are delighted that this year’s golf day has raised more than £10,300; our best one yet! A huge thank you to all 72 golfers for teeing off for local hospice care and supporting the charity to continue delivering specialist end of life care to people in east Kent.”
Pilgrims Hospices extends its heartfelt thanks to all those who participated, sponsored, volunteered, and attended the charity golf day. Your support ensures that individuals with life-limiting illnesses receive the care, compassion, and dignity they deserve.
Leila added: “We also extend our grateful thanks to Canterbury Golf Club, for such a well-maintained golf course, attentive staff, and hospitable grounds people, who certainly enhanced the overall enjoyment of our golfing experience.”
For more information about Pilgrims Hospices and their ongoing efforts to provide hospice care, please visit www.pilgrimshospices.org.
About Pilgrims Hospices:
Pilgrims Hospices is a registered charity that provides palliative care and support to individuals with life-limiting illnesses in east Kent. With a mission to ensure that everyone in their community can access compassionate and comprehensive hospice care, Pilgrims Hospices has been dedicated to improving the lives of patients and their families for over 35 years.
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.
20th May 2020
Golfers go above par for Pilgrims Hospices
Each year, golfers combine their love for the sport with supporting local hospice care. In 2019/20 nearly £60,000 has been raised in the most recent Captain tenures. The golf community is helping to make a big difference to patients living with a terminal illness and their families in east Kent.
With the support of club members, Captains choose a charity to raise vital funds for by organising events and setting challenges for everyone to take part in.
Pilgrims has gratefully received the support of a number of clubs recently including Chestfield GC, Whitstable and Seasalter GC, North Forelands and Ashford GC.
Canterbury Community Fundraising Manager, Leila Ilkhan said: “The generosity among clubs, members and their families is wonderful to see and evokes a fantastic sense of community spirit among clubhouses.”
It is not only golf clubs that tee off in aid of charity but also our supporters who raise vital funds on the greens. Richard Foulger, who is a long-term Pilgrims supporter and member of the Tenterden Fundraising Group hosts an annual golf day at Tenterden Golf Club.
Richard said: “Since 2008 the club has generously supported our annual golf day with many of the club members taking part, helping to raise vital funds. Over the years we’ve welcomed hundreds of supporters who enjoy a brilliant day of hospitality and cheer.”
Together, golf clubs have helped to continue providing vital palliative care across our three hospice sites and in patients’ homes and the community.
We really cannot thank you all enough.
Karen Kenward, Thanet Community Fundraising Manager
Thanet Community Fundraising Manager, Karen Kenward said: “The continued ongoing support from golf clubs is just incredible. Together, golf clubs have helped to continue providing vital palliative care across our three hospice sites and in patients’ homes and the community. We really cannot thank you all enough.”
On behalf of everyone at Pilgrims, a very special thank you to the Captains and members at:
Ashford Golf Club
Canterbury Golf Club
Chestfield Golf Club
Etchinghill Golf Club
Fountain Inn Golf Club
Hythe Golf Club
Littlestone Golf Club
North Foreland Golf Club
Rye Golf Club
Tenterden Golf Day
Whitstable and Seasalter Golf Club
Please note: All photos featured were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
14th August 2018
Local housing association tee off again for Pilgrims Hospices
Staff at Orbit Group in Maidstone chose to support Pilgrims Hospices for a second year in July at their annual Charity Golf Day at The Ridge Golf Club in Maidstone.
More than 130 golfers from across the construction industry attended the 8th annual golf day, helping to raise an incredible £13,351.09 for hospice care.
Regional Contracts Manager for Orbit Group, Wayne Shultz said: “Thanks to the generosity of our guests and our own employees in the Maidstone office, we’ve been able to support a worthy local charity.”
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager for Pilgrims added: “The team at Pilgrims would like to thank the staff of Orbit Group for supporting us for the second year running.
“The golf day was a great success and enjoyed by everyone who took part. The money raised will make a huge difference to those who receive our care locally.”
Teams supporting the event included Jenner, McIntyre Electrical, and Kent Design Studio.
Those competing in the charity day enjoyed the popular par 71 course set in some of the most beautiful countyside in Kent. After trying their luck at ‘the longest drive’ and ‘closes to the pin’, everyone tucked into a tasty two-course meal shared golfing stories and raised even more vital funds by taking part in the big prize charity raffle.
Wayne Shultz added: “Pilgrims is very close to many people’s hearts and truly demonstrates our ‘building communities’ ethos.”
Pilgrims rely on the generous support of the local community to ensure continued specialist care and support to those living with incurable illnesses in east Kent when they need it the most.
Patients and their families are supported at the hospices in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, in the community and in the own homes.
If you would like to find out more about Pilgrims or if you and your colleagues would like to organise a charity event then please contact your local fundraising team.
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 the end of life care given on its wards to its Wellbeing and Social Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
