Cheyenne takes on London Marathon for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of mum
In August 2024, Cheyenne Williams from Dover was delighted to receive a call offering her a place in the London Marathon. On Sunday 27 April 2025, she will take on the world-famous challenge in aid of Pilgrims Hospices, hoping to raise £1,800 for local hospice care.
Cheyenne will run in memory of her mum, Belinda (Bill) Williams, who was cared for by Pilgrims in 2002-2003, aged 37, when Cheyenne was just 6 years old.
Cheyenne with her mum, Bill
Reflecting on that time, Cheyenne said:
“I have very special memories of spending time with my mum at the hospice. The wonderful staff enabled our family to have some normality and routine during a frightening and difficult time. We were able to enjoy dinner together, my siblings and I were supported with art therapy, and we spent evenings playing in the garden with my parents. When my mum came to the end of her life, the amazing staff at Pilgrims supported her to die at home, which was her last wish. I’m fundraising for Pilgrims because I want to support people who have found themselves on a similar journey.”
The marathon will be a huge challenge for Cheyenne, but with the support of friends and family, she is taking it in her stride and planning events to boost her fundraising.
She said: “I’m incredibly lucky to be running the London Marathon for Pilgrims. When I got offered a place, I couldn’t run for even 30 seconds without wheezing and feeling nauseous. I’m also terrible at socialising and find public speaking nerve-wracking, but I’ve hosted a quiz night at my local village hall, which raised over £500! It boosted my confidence, and now I’m planning a bingo night, a bake sale and a jumble sale, and I’m also hoping to host a race night.
“My partner, Josh, has been an incredible support.
“He is so encouraging and has put up with me complaining about my sore toes or when my phone doesn’t record my run! He went and got me a running buggy so I can fit in training runs on days when I’m at home with our daughter, and he helps me to make time for myself to train (or rest, which is just as important!) on days that I’m feeling rushed off my feet or overwhelmed. My lovely family have rallied around to volunteer their time and efforts with my fundraising events and will be coming to London to cheer me on in April.
“I’m also fortunate to have a wonderful group of friends and colleagues at Woodpecker Court, who have supported me with every fundraising event I’ve planned so far. The staff and students also held a ‘Wear something blue for Pilgrims Hospices’ day, which raised £100 towards my fundraising.”
Cheyenne hopes her story will inspire others to challenge themselves and step out of their comfort zone to raise vital funds and awareness for Pilgrims.
Cheyenne’s mum, Bill
She added:
“Pilgrims will always be special to me. When I drive past a Pilgrims Hospice, or find myself wandering into one of their shops, I remember my mum and the happy times we had together. I was very young when my mum passed away, so the majority of memories I have of her are from when she stayed at Pilgrims.
“I wasn’t fully aware of the gravity of the situation we were in, but I guess that’s a testament to the staff and how they cared for us; it would have been a different story if we were cramped in a hospital cubicle every evening. I cannot imagine how scared my mum must have been, but knowing that she was looked after by an incredible team, and that she was enabled, for as long as possible, to keep hold of the parts of her life that brought her joy, brings me comfort.
“I hope that I would have made my mum proud if she was here with me today. I hope that, in supporting other families who are on the same journey we went through, I’m honouring her and keeping her memory alive. I hope that the money raised will make a difference to as many people as possible, and I’m proud knowing that I’m supporting the incredible Pilgrims staff to continue their life-changing work.
“I know that all the discomfort and challenges I’m going to face over the next few months will be nothing compared to what some people are going through at the moment, and I keep reminding myself, when I’m out in the dark and the cold and the rain, it is a privilege to be able to experience life.”
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.
5th March 2025
Richard’s super skydive raises £1,400 for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of loved ones
In July 2024, to celebrate his 60th birthday, Richard Graham from Broadstairs braved a skydive for Pilgrims Hospices.
He raised an incredible £1,400 for hospice care in east Kent in memory of family members who received the charity’s compassionate care.
Nicola on her wedding day with her mum, Jacqueline
Richard and his wife, Nicola Jenkins-Graham, experienced Pilgrims’ services first-hand after Nicola’s mum, Jacqueline Jenkins, was diagnosed with cancer. Jacqueline spent time in the Ashford hospice in 2023. Nicola’s auntie, Ann Shersby, was also cared for by Pilgrims in 2024.
Nicola said: “I’m so grateful to Pilgrims for looking after my dear mum and my auntie.
“When my mum was referred to Pilgrims, I was very scared. I remember the day the wonderful Pilgrims nurse walked through our door; how lucky we were to get someone to come and see us at home, I thought! She was so kind and understanding; although she broached subjects that were a little difficult to discuss, she held our hands throughout the whole journey.
“It was then I realised that Pilgrims were not just there to care for my mum, they were there for us as a family, too. Support and visits continued, and there was always a friendly and helpful person on the end of the phone if we had concerns, or to give us reassurance we were doing the right thing.
“On 21 August 2023, Mum wasn’t doing so well. With support from Pilgrims, we decided to move her into the hospice, where a bed was available. I arrived in such a state; Mum was comfortable and safe, but the worry had got to me. As we entered the hospice, a sense of calm came over me. Mum was taken to her room by the wonderful nurses, and the amazing volunteers ushered me to a chair and brought me a big mug of tea, a supply of biscuits and a box of tissues. Their support and kindness was so appreciated, as I was tired and in shock knowing that I’d left my dear Mum’s house with her for the last time.
“Mum’s room was decorated with care to make it a home away from home. She was wrapped up and comfy and looked so relaxed. There was a balcony and views over the beautiful garden. At the end of the corridor was a serene room for relatives with tea and coffee, comfy sofas, a TV and puzzles – so, when Mum was sleeping, I was able to rest and relax in peace and quiet. The volunteers regularly checked on me to make sure I had something to eat and offered me more tea. On one occasion, the lovely Cat Darkins, Lead Spiritual Chaplain, sat with me and brought me much comfort at a difficult time.
Nicola with her auntie, Ann
“Mum was in the hospice for 10 days; she was a fighter. I cannot thank the wonderful nurses, doctors and volunteers enough for making my mum’s last days peaceful. They treated her with so much dignity and respect, and I am eternally grateful.
“I was also supported by a bereavement counsellor who helped me on my grief journey and showed me the skills I’d need to continue my life in remembrance of my dear mum.
“I would tell anyone who may need Pilgrims services: Don’t be scared to reach out; they will be there to support you through dark times, and you will feel like you have warm angel wings comforting you.
“This is why Richard and I are doing what we can to support the hospice. He celebrated his 60th birthday in 2024 and decided to jump out of the plane for Pilgrims! I was so proud of him for being so brave and raising £1,400 for such a meaningful cause. Since then, we’ve raised even more and will continue to support Pilgrims in any way we can.”
Richard with Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager
Richard added:
“Pilgrims Hospices provided exceptional care and comfort during my mother-in-law’s illness, so I signed up for a skydive and set up a JustGiving Page to raise money for them. I was overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of everyone who donated.
“When the day arrived, the weather was glorious. My wife, mum and dad, daughter, her partner, and my two lovely grandsons came to Headcorn to support me. My friend, David, also booked to jump with me as moral support. I wasn’t sure what to expect; leading up to it, I was completely relaxed. I thought maybe the nerves would kick in, but I felt calm, probably more calm than my family. It was amazing looking down out of the plane before we jumped, and the feeling is incredible as you free fall, then calmness when the parachute opens, and you slowly float back down to the ground.
“Overall, it was an exhilarating experience that I will never forget. It was made even more meaningful with my family being there and being able to raise so much money for the wonderful Pilgrims Hospices. I am so grateful for everyone’s support and generosity.”
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Richard Graham Skydive 3
If you’d like to support Pilgrims by taking on a challenge for local hospice care, visit pilgrimshospices.org/events to find out how you can get involved.
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.
16th January 2025
Pilgrims Hospices’ Christmas Tree Recycling campaign raises record-breaking £78,465 for end-of-life care
Pilgrims Hospices is delighted to announce the success of its recent Christmas Tree Recycling campaign, which took place over the weekend of January 10-12, 2025.
The environmentally-friendly initiative saw more than 4,200 real Christmas trees collected from residents across Canterbury, Ashford, and Thanet, as well as from those who dropped off their trees at Faversham’s Macknade Food Hall.
This year’s campaign was a record-breaker, raising an incredible £78,465 to support the charity’s vital end-of-life care services.
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The annual campaign has become a cherished tradition within the local community, combining environmental responsibility with charitable giving. Residents registered their real Christmas trees for collection in exchange for a donation, and a dedicated team of Pilgrims’ staff and volunteers ensured the trees were collected and recycled responsibly. The chippings from the recycled trees are used for composting and soil improvement, contributing to local agricultural efforts and within the hospices’ own grounds.
Kate Duddell, Head of Fundraising at Pilgrims Hospices, expressed her gratitude: “We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from the east Kent community. Collecting over 4,200 trees and raising £78,465 is a testament to the generosity of our supporters and the hard work of our dedicated volunteers. These funds are crucial in helping us provide compassionate end-of-life care to those who need it most.”
The success of this campaign would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of local councils, businesses, tree chippers, and an army of volunteers who donated their time, vehicles, and expertise to ensure the thousands of Christmas trees were chipped and recycled.
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“Our thanks also go to our campaign partners; Kent County Council and all the staff at the Ashford Recycling Centre. A very special thanks goes to Ashford Borough Council for their years of dedicated support, along with Canterbury City Council and Thanet District Council. We are also grateful to the many businesses and organisations that supported the event by donating vans, crews, and time to help us with this initiative.”
They include:
Kent County Council
Ashford Borough Council
Canterbury City Council
Thanet District Council
Macknade
Pneuma Church
A Bird Tree Surgery
AW Construction
Bourne to Garden
Bruks Tree Surgery
Countrystyle
CS Heating and Plumbing
Earle’s Landscapes
Endeavourcom
D Parr Tree Surgeons
Dave Lowe
David Glew & Sons Garden Maintenance
Furley Page Solicitors
Givaudan
Goodwins Hot Tubs
Injection Development
Jenner
Kenhire
Langham Kitchens
Lenleys
LS Marketing
Let’s Clean For You
MW Cave Ltd
New Perspective Digital
NRS Healthcare
Old Dairy Taproom
Practical Van Hire
PSR Lighting
Royal Mail
Select Plant Hire
Shadoxhurst Village Hall
Speech4Kids
Streetspace
St Lawrence College, Ramsgate
TJC Renewables
Vegas Kitchens
Waitrose
Walker Construction
WW Martin
Pilgrims Hospices provide care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent each year, supporting patients with incurable illnesses to live well until the end of life. Fundraising initiatives like the Christmas Tree Recycling campaign are essential to sustaining these services, ensuring that care remains free of charge for those who need it.
Make a donation; all donations, big or small, make a huge difference
Volunteer your time; volunteers play a crucial role in helping keep the hospice caring
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.
16th December 2024
Santas on the Run! Pilgrims Hospices event brings festive cheer and raises vital funds
Herne Bay was transformed into a sea of red and white on Sunday 15 December 2024 as over 1,150 Santas jogged, strolled, and sprinted their way along the stunning seaside during Pilgrims Hospices’ Santas on the Run! festive fundraiser.
The event has already raised over £27,000, with donations and sponsorship still arriving. This impressive amount will ensure that Pilgrims Hospices can continue delivering vital end-of-life care across east Kent.
Participants of all ages and abilities embraced the holiday spirit, donning Santa suits to tackle 3k, 5k, or 10k routes starting at the iconic Clock Tower. The scenic course took runners along the promenade, past Herne Bay Pier, and along the coastal path before looping back to the Clock Tower for their well-earned medals.
A Day to remember
The day kicked off with a lively warm-up led by the energetic Active Life crew, setting the tone for a morning filled with laughter and joy. Adding to the festive atmosphere were the rhythmic beats of the San Pelo Mar drummers, who kept spirits high throughout the event. Even the weather played its part, remaining mild for the time of year, much to the delight of participants.
Jean Butcher, the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, joined the festivities, congratulating participants and presenting medals to many of the jubilant Santas.
Lord Mayor of Canterbury Cllr. Jean Butcher
“Watching so many Santas come together to support Pilgrims Hospices is heart-warming,” said Rachel Edmed, Community Fundraising Manager. “The enthusiasm and generosity of our supporters ensure that we can continue providing compassionate end-of-life care for patients and families across east Kent. We’re so grateful to everyone who made this event a huge success!”
Thank you for spreading festive cheer
Pilgrims Hospices extends its heartfelt gratitude to the runners, volunteers, sponsors, and spectators who made Santas on the Run! such a memorable day. Events like this are only possible with your unwavering support, and together, we’re making a real difference for those facing life-limiting illnesses.
Whether you sprinted, strolled, or spectated, thank you for being part of this festive celebration. Let’s keep the holiday spirit alive — see you next 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.
10th December 2024
Finley raises £100s for Pilgrims Hospices by dancing on his drive
7 year-old Finley Dyer from Ramsgate was inspired to support Pilgrims Hospices after his nan, Barbara (Nanny B), was cared for by the local hospice charity in 2021.
Finley woke up one morning and decided he would dance on the driveway outside his home to try and raise awareness and donations to help support Pilgrims services.
Finley’s dad, Chris, said: “Finley’s fundraising started off as a couple of pounds and then exceeded £100, and now he has a JustGiving pageshowing an incredible £935 (plus Gift Aid). Our thanks go out to the kind support and donations of passersby who generously donated to Finley.”
Finley said: “I danced and sold my old toys on my driveway as I wanted to help people who are poorly and need Pilgrims care, because they looked after my Nanny B. I hope my fundraising helps others, too. If you want to raise money for Pilgrims Hospices, you can do the same. Merry Christmas, everyone!”
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager, added:
“Chris called me to let me know what Finley had done through his own initiative, and I was absolutely amazed at the total he has raised to date, which is still increasing. Finley’s family and friends are so very proud of him, and his JustGiving page keeps growing. What Finley has achieved is just wonderful; at just 7 years old, to have this idea to support our charity’s cause is just incredible. It’s so wonderful to see from someone so young.
“We at Pilgrims, his dad Chris, and his family and friends, are so very proud of Finley’s amazing commitment. His school has also recognised his commitment to our charity. Thank you so very much, Finley, your Christmas festive video on how to encourage others to donate is so heartfelt, we really cannot thank you enough.”
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.
7th December 2024
The Wooden Box Café, Ramsgate offers grief support to local community
Dawn Baldwin from Ramsgate runs The Wooden Box Café, where she hosts a weekly bereavement support group and various fundraising activities for Pilgrims Hospices.
She supports the local charity in memory of her dad, John Humphrys, who received Pilgrims care in 2022.
John was a family man, doting on Dawn and her sister, Claire, and his six grandchildren. He spent 35 years working as a Technical Administrator at Hornby Hobbies in Margate, and before that he was a disc jockey known as DJ Ferret. He was still working full-time at Hornby Hobbies when he was referred to Pilgrims, aged 71, for symptom control of his cancer.
Dawn said: “Although Dad was only in the hospice for a short time, the care was beautiful. We also said a big thank you to Hornby Hobbies after he passed, as they were so supportive as an employer.”
John with his colleagues at Hornby Hobbies, his daughters Dawn and Claire, and his grandchildren Charlie, Lacey and Lillie
The Wooden Box Café was established in Ramsgate but went up for sale, and Dawn began running it in February 2024: “I’d always wanted to have my own cafe, so when I found out I had some inheritance money, I started looking. A good friend told me about The Wooden Box; I’d not heard of it before, even though Dad had only lived round the corner! I thought, “Well, I’ve got this opportunity because my dad’s in a wooden box.” so I took it; I didn’t find this cafe, it very much came to me.”
Dawn hosts a drop-in bereavement support group on Thursday mornings, offering a safe and compassionate space for members of the local community to come together and support each other following bereavement. Everyone is welcome.
“People just sit, have a coffee and a chat, and help each other. One lady who came in asked me what my yellow rose tattoo means and I said it represents strength for everyone fighting cancer, and also my dad’s resilience. It also features in the signage on the outside of the cafe. She then told me that she’d recently moved to the area with her family and her mum had died the day before. She showed me her mum’s knitted heart from Pilgrims – during the pandemic, Pilgrims gave matching knitted hearts to patients and their families, as a way to remain connected despite social distancing restrictions. I showed her my knitted heart, too, as I carry it with me everywhere. Her dad came in shortly afterwards, and we were able to signpost them to local services to help with things like funeral planning.”
Regular customer, Rita, makes crochet trinkets that are sold to raise money for Pilgrims. Dawn added: “Rita’s daughter received Pilgrims care, so it’s her way of giving back and it’s the reason our Pilgrims collection pots fill up so quickly.”
John
Dawn also displays local artwork, which is available to purchase, and has a small library where customers can borrow books, both in return for a suggested donation to the charity – the bookshelf was even sourced from Pilgrims Tivoli Brooks furniture warehouse. In addition, she plans to hold a weekly book club.
In September 2024, Dawn hosted an open mic event to raise money for Pilgrims, and hopes to put on another in the near future. She is planning much more, too, including a Christmas-themed doggie photo competition, which people can pay £1 to enter to be in with the chance of winning a hamper.
Dawn also attends annual remembrance events at the Thanet hospice: “Trees of Love is the best event of the whole year, and we have a leaf on the Memory Tree for Dad.
“When my dad died, I thought no one would want to listen to me talk about my grief, so I just went straight back to work. I don’t want other people to feel like that – I want to offer this space to others so they know they’re not alone, and support Pilgrims in any way I can.”
The Wooden Box Café is located at 91 High Street, Ramsgate CT11 9RH.
National Grief Awareness Week takes place 2-8 December 2024. It raises awareness of the impact of grief and loss on a national platform. To find out more, visit thegoodgrieftrust.org/ngaw.
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity dedicated to providing expert care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses in east Kent. Our services ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families, offering compassionate care both in hospice settings and in the community.