Alexa melts our hearts with her incredible achievement that began in 2024
Alexa Bolger from Westgate-on-Sea has been raising funds for Pilgrims Hospices after loved ones and family friends received the charity’s kind and caring support.
Alexa with her fundraising certificate
During the school summer holidays, Alexa’s grandma, Betty (“Gan Gan”), gave her £10 pocket money, which she used to buy clay beads to make colourful bracelets. Alexa set up a little stall outside her home and sold her creations, raising an amazing £218 for Pilgrims in just five days – thanks to the kindness of passersby, neighbours and family who all stopped to support her.
Now, we’re thrilled to share that Alexa has gone even further and smashed her fundraising target of £1,000, reaching an incredible total of £1,001 for Pilgrims Hospices!
Alexa said:
“I want to help people who are poorly and need Pilgrims’ care so they can be a little bit happier in the time they have left. I hope my fundraising helps to buy medicine for them and the care they need.”
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager, added:
“Alexa came to see us in August 2024 with a donation of £218 from her bracelet sales, which she raised by asking family, friends and neighbours for small donations to support our hospice services. Since then, she has taken her idea to school and continued to raise funds, including selling bracelets at last year’s Thanet 5k Colour Run, where she raised an additional £150 on the day.
“On 30 October 2025, I was absolutely delighted to announce that Alexa had reached her goal – and even gone past it!
“Alexa truly is a little superstar. To be just nine years old and so passionate about helping others is wonderful to see. Everyone at Pilgrims – along with her mum, Clare, her family, friends, and even her neighbours who’ve supported her every step of the way – are so proud of her amazing achievement.
“Thank you, Alexa, for my handmade Christmas cracker and charm – they were so thoughtful and will take pride of place on my Christmas tree this year! You always bring a smile to my face and melt my heart every time I see you.”
If you’ve been inspired by Alexa and would like to fundraise for Pilgrims in the Thanet area, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager:
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, providing services from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in people’s own homes.
5th October 2025
Hundreds get covered in colour for Pilgrims Hospices care
Wow! What a wonderful, happy and windy atmosphere seeing everyone again at this year’s Pilgrims Hospices Thanet 5k Colour Run, which took centre stage at Palm Bay, Cliftonville, Margate on Sunday 5 October 2025.
With over 400 Pilgrims Hospices supporters participating and raising an impressive £235k plus in the nine years the event has taken place for hospice end-of-life care in east Kent, it’s clear that the event made a significant impact.
Karen Kenward, Fundraising Manager, and the entire team deserve commendation for their hard work and dedication in organising such a successful event.
It’s heart-warming to see the community coming together on a most spectacular day in Cliftonville. It was exciting to see so many familiar faces; families and friends coming together to enjoy a colourful fun day while also supporting our local charity.
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Bex leading the warm-up
The fact that the weather was rather windy this year only added to the joy and vibrancy of the occasion.
A brilliant way to kick off the Colour Run event was with fitness expert Bex, who did a fun warm-up for all. The dynamic and energetic warm-up session was full of fun dance moves, and prepared everyone for the colourful and exciting spectacle ahead. With cool dance music playing, participants were encouraged to move, stretch, and get their hearts pumping, creating a lively atmosphere prior to a colour blast.
Karen said:
“The money raised today will undoubtedly go a long way in providing crucial support and care for those in need in the community. The Thanet 5k Colour Run is not only a fantastic way to raise money, but also a beautiful example of how communities can unite for a great cause and raise awareness for our charity. A huge well done to everyone who supported us on the day, and here’s to many more successful events in the future!”
Karen added:
“I would like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to our sponsors –Stagecoach, Copyshop and Mini Stores in Deal. Also, thank you for the support of Margate Ambulance, Academy Radio, Isle of Thanet, Frank Leppard for his incredible photos, Pete our DJ, and lastly to Fundraising Assistant, Annie Pritchard, Pilgrims staff and volunteers who help support me in making this event so special each year, come wind, rain or shine!I think I can truly say we’ve all had a real colour blast of a day today and we couldn’t run the event without everyone’s wonderful support. Thank you all once again!”
Annie Pritchard, Fundraising Assistant, with husband and volunteer, Reg
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
3rd October 2025
Norman and Christine’s story: “Pilgrims is always there if you need them”
Norman Sole from Walmer experienced Pilgrims Hospices’ care when his wife, Christine, was cared for by the charity.
Inspired by the kindness they were shown by Pilgrims, Norman and his family wanted to give back so that others can benefit from the same compassionate care.
Their story shows how Pilgrims continue to look after families into bereavement, often playing a very special role in their lives as they navigate their grief.
Norman and Christine were married for 57 years and had two children, Mike and Jeannie. Christine worked as a telephonist before marrying Norman. They had a plant nursery until they retired; Christine picked tomatoes in the large greenhouses. She loved gardening, knitting, her pet cats, and line dancing.
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Later in life, Christine was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer; initially cured by chemotherapy, it sadly returned and became terminal. Whilst in hospital, a doctor asked Christine if she wanted to be referred to the hospice.
Mike and Jeannie said:
“Mum was hospitalised, with the aim being to fit a stent in her throat. She went in expecting to come home. Unfortunately, the procedure didn’t work, so palliative care became the only option. She went downhill very quickly.
“They moved Mum to a private room, and the next day someone from the palliative care team came and asked if she’d like to go into the hospice. We all agreed that this would be for the best.”
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Christine spent five days in the Thanet hospice; she died on 6 August 2023, aged 81.
Norman said:
“A friend had been in the Canterbury hospice several years prior, and I’d visited them there, but that had been my only experience until Christine was referred.
“The hospital was very noisy, people come and go all the time; Christine kept saying, “I wish it was quieter in here.” In hospital, we were always doing things for her because the staff were so busy, they didn’t have time, so we were trying to think about what she wanted.
“Once we went into the hospice, it was instantly calm, a completely different atmosphere. It was like someone had taken the responsibility of care from us, so that we could look after ourselves and be a family. We didn’t expect anything, but the hospice team anticipated our needs, and made us feel part of the wider Pilgrims family.”
Jeannie agreed: “Pilgrims caters incredibly well for families. It was my birthday whilst Mum was in the hospice; she mentioned it to the hospice staff, and they brought me a cake with a candle, and a birthday card! It’s those little things that really make a big difference.
Christine with one of her beloved cats
“I also felt much calmer in the hospice. As a family, we wouldn’t all usually spend a week together like that; it sounds weird, but after Mum died, I missed us having lunch together every day, walking around the gardens, getting a coffee. We never felt like we shouldn’t be there, like we were in the way, or that we should leave if we’d been there all day. I missed that when it was over, it was a very special time.
“It’s one of those things you hope you never have to go through, but it couldn’t have been a better experience.”
Mike added:
“All the staff were lovely. We felt the nursing staff really cared, and that Mum wasn’t just another patient. The focus in the hospice is different; when Mum was in hospital, they were trying to make her better. But once we knew she was at the end of life, and we’d had a few days to adjust, our mindset shifted – it became about keeping Mum comfortable for the time she had left.”
To say thank you for the care they received, Norman and his family now support Pilgrims in many ways, including taking part in annual remembrance events like Sunflower Memories and Trees of Love. Mike also completed the Folkestone Downs Challenge with his daughter, Eleanor, and his wife, Helen, volunteers at the Canterbury hospice with patients who attend wellbeing groups.
Most recently, Norman decided to grow sunflowers in his garden after attending Sunflower Memories. He entered Walmer in Bloom for the first time in 2025, and his sunflowers won first prize in the Best Garden Display category.
Norman with his children, Mike and Jeannie, and his award-winning sunflowersNorman at the Walmer in Bloom award ceremony
Norman received the letter telling him he’d won on 6 August 2025, the two-year anniversary of Christine’s death:
“It made a very sad day a little bit happier. I got into growing sunflowers after we attended the Sunflower Memories event to celebrate Christine’s life, so winning the Walmer in Bloom award was extra special.”
Norman attended an award presentation at Walmer Castle, where he received a certificate, and he donated his prize money to Pilgrims.
Mike added:
“Pilgrims support families even after their loved one has died, which is really positive. It’s so nice that they’ve kept in touch with Dad; he enjoys keeping up to date with hospice news and events. The little things we’re able to do, like supporting the remembrance events in memory of Mum, allows us to give back, so that other people can benefit like we did.”
Norman agreed:
“Pilgrims don’t just fade away, they’re always there if you need them.”
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
19th September 2025
Pilgrims Hospices’ eco-friendly Tree Recycling campaign returns
Each January, many Christmas trees head to landfills once the festive season comes to an end. But thanks to Pilgrims Hospices’ annual Tree Recycling campaign, this doesn’t have to be the case.
Each year, thousands of Pilgrims supporters recycle their Christmas trees, helping to reduce their environmental impact and raise vital funds for local hospice care.
The Tree Recycling campaign began over 13 years ago in the Ashford Borough Council area, thanks to a group of dedicated hospice volunteers, who are still pivotal in supporting the Ashford campaign today.
Then in 2022, the charity ‘branched’ out to cover Canterbury City Council and Thanet District Council areas; as well as hosting a drop-off station in Faversham with ‘tree-rific’ success.
Since its inception, the charity has collected over 20,000 trees, raised more than £368,000, and prevented over 320 tonnes of CO₂e from entering the atmosphere.
In 2025, the campaign raised a staggering £78,000, directly supporting patients and their families across east Kent. These funds are raised simply by registering your tree and making a donation online. So, you can ‘leaf’ the hard work to our wonderful team of Pilgrims elves, who collect and recycle your real Christmas trees.
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A greener way to give
This incredible impact wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of our local communities and volunteers, whose bright idea grew into a campaign that has more than 75 volunteers involved each year, helping to raise vital funds, ensuring we can be there for those who need us.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of local businesses and volunteers who donate their time, vehicles and facilities, in 2025 we were able to collect over 4,200 Christmas trees, preventing more than 67 tonnes of CO₂e from entering the atmosphere. Instead of going to a landfill and releasing harmful methane, the trees are chipped and repurposed into mulch or compost-eco-friendly by-products that break down slowly and sustainably. A ‘tree-rific’ example of community collaboration for a shared environmental and social goal.
The second life of Christmas trees
Our collections are carefully planned using digital mapping software, allowing us to design the most efficient routes. This reduces travel distances, maximises household collections, and lowers our overall carbon footprint. Once collected, trees are taken to our Canterbury or Thanet hospice sites, where they’re chipped and repurposed for environmental landscaping across east Kent. Some of the chippings are even used within our own hospice grounds, while others are donated to local composting projects or animal rescue centres, giving your tree a second life in the most sustainable way.
Every tree continues to do good long after the decorations come down. It’s a simple act with a powerful impact.
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Mark your calendars!
Pilgrims Hospices’ much-loved campaign returns in January 2026:
Canterbury and Thanet: Friday 9 – Monday 12 January 2026
Ashford: Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 January 2026
Online bookings will open via the Pilgrims Hospices website from October 2025.
All bookings will close on 5 January 2026, the twelfth and final day of the Christmas season (unless maximum capacity is reached earlier).
Supporters can register their tree for collection in exchange for a donation of their choice. Our dedicated teams of volunteer elves, full of festive spirit, will be out in vans collecting trees across all three hospice areas.
By recycling your Christmas tree with Pilgrims, you’ll be doing more than just clearing out the old for the New Year.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
1st September 2025
Partnerships in action: Over two decades of support for Pilgrims Hospices
For 28 years, the staff at Givaudan in Ashford have supported Pilgrims Hospices as their chosen charity, raising over £195,100 in vital funds.
A charity close to many of their hearts, the team has taken on a variety of challenge events and volunteered their time at Pilgrims events; always demonstrating that their dedication to the local community is at the heart of their business.
Their support has included:
Taking on charity challenges, including Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge and Pilgrims Way Challenge
Organising summer BBQs and firework nights.
Volunteering during Pilgrims Tree Recycling campaign
Jonathan Fairclough, Head of Givaudan Ashford Operations, said:
“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible work Pilgrims Hospices does. The dedication to providing compassionate care to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses speaks volumes about your commitment to enhancing lives. At Givaudan, we truly appreciate the joy and enthusiasm you bring to fundraising efforts; you put the fun in fundraising, and we’re honoured to have been able to support Pilgrims Hospices for so many years! Working alongside your wonderful team has been a privilege, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful collaboration. Thank you for all that you do for our community.”
Most recently, the Pilgrims Corporate Fundraising team went along to the annual Givaudan staff party, and were delighted to stand proud with the team to receive a donation for £11,000, raised during their 2024 fundraising activities.
Leila Ilkhan, Corporate and Trusts Partnerships Manager, said: “The support Givaudan has given Pilgrims for over two decades has touched the lives of hundreds of people across east Kent. We are incredibly grateful to have their continued support and for them to be part of our hospice journey.”
Are you feeling inspired? If the Givaudan team has given you some ideas on how your business could also support Pilgrims, we’d love to talk to you.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to more than 3,000 people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
21st August 2025
Physiotherapist Kim raises over £1,000 for hospice care in triathlon and wing walk extravaganza
In August 2025, Kim Steel from Birchington completed a triathlon and a wing walk (in a morph suit!) for Pilgrims Hospices, raising more than £1,000 for local hospice care.
As a physiotherapist at the Thanet hospice, Kim sees first-hand how Pilgrims care benefits the east Kent community.
Kim
Kim qualified as a physiotherapist in 2010 and enjoyed many varied roles before joining Pilgrims. She worked with sports teams, taught Pilates, and volunteered in Belize setting up clinics for people who struggled to access healthcare. Kim is also trained in acupuncture, and has specialised in paediatrics and orthopaedics. After working within the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic and then having her daughter, Theia (2), she decided to try self-employment.
Kim said: “I was humbled by the team dynamics, the courage and positivity of my NHS colleagues, despite the adversity; it was inspiring. I continued with them until we were lucky enough to start our family, when I needed the flexibility to fit my work around childcare.”
Whilst looking to supplement her self-employment, Kim spotted a temporary maternity cover vacancy at Pilgrims:
“I took a stab in the dark; I’d not had much experience with palliative care. After seeing the inspiring care, helping people with their wishes in their last days, and feeling like a valued team member, I jumped at the chance to be made permanent.”
Six months into her role at Pilgrims, Kim wanted to give back even more, and decided to take on a triathlon and a wing walk for the charity.
Kim during the triathlon
Kim completed the Active Life Oysterman Triathlon – a 500m swim, 20k cycle and 5k run – in Whitstable on 3 August 2025. She had originally signed up to do it “for fun” in 2024, but deferred due to post-partum recovery:
“I had several complications after my emergency C-section with Theia in 2023, including sepsis and a haematoma. I needed surgery, and fought for my life three times in a fortnight. I also had ongoing hip pain and post-sepsis syndrome.
“While my fitness was OK when I was on maternity leave, trying to return to work and keep it up wasn’t manageable. Deferring the triathlon allowed me to really optimise my training… until eight weeks prior to the event, when I tore an ankle ligament! Luckily it healed, but it left me with less than a fortnight to train. So, with all the work I put into it, I felt it was worth a sponsor!”
On the day, Kim completed her swim in 14 minutes (doing 700m in total), her cycle in 55 minutes, and her run in 37 minutes, and said:
“I didn’t hate it and I didn’t die, so I’ll take that as a win! I had great support from my husband, James, and my friends Meg and Emily, and Theia ran after me trying to cross the finish line!”
Kim at the triathlon with her daughter, Theia, and her best friend, Meg
And Kim didn’t stop there!
Drawn to thrill-seeking pursuits, she wanted to push her comfort zone further and completed a wing walk challenge at Headcorn Aerodrome on 17 August 2025:
“I’ve been intrigued by wing walking since I saw it on Davina McCall’s Don’t Try This at Home programme as a kid. I remember watching it in awe; wing walking particularly stood out, and I thought, “I’m going to do that when I grow up!””
“Now, as an adult, it feels pretty insane; I’ve generally been fearless (Theia is making sure that comes back to haunt me!) I’ve skydived, played roller derby, ramp skated, travelled alone from a young age, and moved away from friends and family to set up a new life by the sea.”
“But I remember that inevitable adult fear kicking in twice while travelling through Guatemala – once hurtling down a volcano on a bike (no bottling it on that one!) and the other jumping off a 20m bridge into a river below (that one I did bottle, and I’ve kicked myself since).
“So, definitely no bottling the wing walk. Friends, clients and my parents have all been so generous in supporting me and spreading the word. I said if I hit £1,000, I’d do it in a morph suit… and I did!”
Kim also organised and led a Pilates session on Minnis Bay Beach in July 2025, to further support her fundraising.
Upon completing the wing walk, she reflected:
“The day was lovely – a once in a life time opportunity. It was amazing to have family there to cheer me on; Theia wore wings and walked on the wing of a play plane! I felt calm about it all, awaiting “the best rollercoaster of my life” as it had been coined by someone who’d done it prior. I tried to lift my legs, which was quite a challenge! I also took in the incredible views – it was a beautiful, clear day. A couple of times I felt my belly go, as we did dramatic height changes.
“Back on the ground, I felt accomplished and very relaxed!
“I have precious memories of the day and am very pleased to have raised over £1,000 for local hospice care.”
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Kim’s wing walk for Pilgrims Hospices
Sophie Howland, Events Fundraiser, said:
“A huge thank you to Kim, who’s truly gone above and beyond for Pilgrims! Through her hard work and bravery, she’s raised an amazing £1,246 to support local hospice care. We’re so proud of everything she’s achieved, and what a fantastic difference she’s made. Well done and thank you, Kim!”
Kim added:
“Pilgrims staff have been so incredibly welcoming, and also taught me a whole new way of working. The care, compassion and skill they provide for those in the last months and days of their lives is humbling, and it doesn’t stop there – they also provide comfort to patients’ loved ones, easing their journey at such difficult times.
“I feel hospices should be fully funded, and I think it’s outrageous that most of their funding comes from other peoples’ charity, so I want to do all I can to support them.
“So please, if you can, help us to continue helping people in east Kent. Thank you!”
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to more than 3,000 people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
