Sun shines brightly on Pilgrims’ Summer Garden Party
With many visitors to the Summer Garden Party held in the grounds of Pilgrims Hospice Ashford on Saturday 4 August, the day proved to be a roaring success and is set to raise more than £18,000 in vital funds for the charity.
This year saw more sumptuous afternoon teas than ever being enjoyed by visitors, along with the wonderful teddy bear’s picnic, a new addition to the hospice’s wildflower garden. Whether you were encouraged to fish for a bottle, enjoy a reflexology treatment or try your luck on a tombola, there was something for everyone.
This is such a fantastic event. So many of our staff and volunteers all come together as a team to make the Garden Party a success. It’s wonderful to walk around our gardens and see everyone smiling and having fun. Thank you to everyone who helped make a difference for our charity.
Wendy Kelk, Hospice Services Manager
During the afternoon Pilgrims Hospices Healthcare Assistant, Sarah Smith, braved the clippers and had her head shaved to raise even more funds for hospice patients. Local companies also showed their support, including KDC Power Utilities who donated an iPad, helping to raise nearly £4,000 through the Summer Grand Draw.
Sarah Smith had her head shaved to raise vital funds for Pilgrims
Hospice Services Manager, Wendy Kelk, was one of more than 150 volunteers on the day and said, “This is such a fantastic event. So many of our staff and volunteers all come together as a team to make the Garden Party a success. It’s wonderful to walk around our gardens and see everyone smiling and having fun. Thank you to everyone who helped make a difference for our charity.”
Maria Martin, who attended with her young son, Oscar, said: “The afternoon’s excitement began the moment Oscar realised he could go on the free park and ride bus to get to the hospice – he would have stayed and gone round and round all afternoon! He loved the children’s games too, especially fishing for ducks.”
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
26th July 2018
Pilgrims Vintage Tea and Fair is a scorcher
Westgate Gardens in Canterbury filled with 100s of locals and visitors from across east Kent on Saturday afternoon for the annual Pilgrims Hospices Vintage Tea and Fair. The temperature soared into the high 20s as cream teas and ice creams were purchased in aid of the charity that supports end of life care in local towns and villages. The event is set to match the £5,500 figure raised last year.
While some enjoyed jazz music from The Ruby Sisterz and close up magic from Stuart Weller on the patio with tea and cake, others took part in the traditional games and purchased treasures from stalls that were set out across the gardens.
Stuart said: “I support Pilgrims Hospices charity because of the free care they offer people who suffer illnesses that limit their life, along with the support they give to their families as well. It’s such a great charity.”
Pilgrims Hospices retail team provided a wonderful array of pre-loved clothing, hats, and accessories for visitors to purchase. Tim Stewart, Pilgrims Retail Manager, said: “We brought along a variety of stock from our many shops, including lots of lovely vintage items in keeping with the day. The sales on the day generated around £750, all helping to pay for the vital care of hospice patients and their families.”
This year the event saw many new attractions alongside the regular array of traditional jams and chutneys and homemade cakes, luxury craft stalls and fabulous raffle prizes.
Leila Ilkhan, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager for Canterbury, said: “The temperatures have been record-breaking and we really thank our amazing volunteers for all the support they gave on the day with setting up the stalls, tables and chairs, servicing refreshments, running stalls and so much more.
“We wouldn’t be able to run this lovely event without their support, and of course the support of our wonderful corporate sponsors’ whose help allow us to allocate every £1 raised on the day to hospice care on our wards, within the community and in patients’ homes.
Staff and volunteers dressed in 30s, 40s and 50s styles and were entertained by a variety of singers, musicians and dancers at this vintage-themed event.
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.
18th July 2018
With the summer comes Pilgrims Vintage Tea and Fair
Once again, Tower House at Westgate Gardens, Canterbury will be transformed into a venue for the annual Pilgrims Hospices Vintage Tea and Fair on Saturday 21 July between 12pm – 4pm.
After the roaring success of last year’s event, Pilgrims would like supporters and friends to join them again for a cream tea with homemade cakes, luxury vintage craft stalls and more. The much-loved traditional tea party raises valuable funds, which provide care for people within the community who are terminally ill and need Pilgrims support.
Last year the event raised almost £5,500, helping to provide nursing care, equipment and care within the community and in peoples’ homes. Your support again at this year’s event will help the Pilgrims Hospices charity to continue this good work.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, said: “Last year saw 100’s of visitors enjoying our traditional vintage summer fair. This year, our staff and volunteers will dress in 30s 40s and 50s styles and we welcome any visitors to do the same if they wish.
We have many new attractions, including jazz singers and musicians, dancers, funfair games, face painting and a wonderful new children’s story corner to name a few.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury
“We have many new attractions, including jazz singers and musicians, dancers, funfair games, face painting and a wonderful new children’s story corner to name a few. Our regular array of traditional jams and chutneys, plant stall and luxury craft stalls, along with some fabulous raffle prizes, will also be there.
“We are really excited to be welcome Stuart Weller, a close-up magician, to our special day. Stuart will entertain, enthrall and baffle our visitors with his tricks.”
Stuart said: “I support the Pilgrims Hospices charity because of the free care they offer to people who suffer illnesses that limit their life, along with the support they give to their families as well. Such a great charity.”
Headline sponsors Regal Estates has kindly supported Pilgrims by sponsoring the event. This means that every £1 from donations, raffle tickets and purchases on the day will go directly to Pilgrims care. Rob Brady, Sales and Lettings Director for Regal Estates, said: “We have supported this fantastic event now for three years running, alongside other Pilgrims events. Our continued support for Pilgrims means a lot to many staff members. We would encourage anyone to pop down, have a cream tea and maybe try winning something on a stall. We also have the main raffle tickets available for sale at our office.”
Our continued support for Pilgrims means a lot to many staff members.
Rob Brady, Sales and Lettings Director, Regal Estates“
Pilgrims retail charity shops team of staff and volunteers will also have a grand selection of beautiful outfits, hats and costume jewellery, plus much more for visitors to purchase on the day.
Leila added, “I’m very fortunate to have such a lovely group of volunteers who help me to prepare the refreshments and stalls for the event. There will be plenty to entertain everyone. I’m really looking forward to the event; thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help make the event so special.”
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.
31st May 2018
Kent Police make touching tribute to a colleague and donation to Pilgrims
Police officers across the Kent Police force took on Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge on 6 May in tribute to and in memory of their colleague Leigh Harris, who passed away at the age of 37 years from cancer. Police colleagues both serving and retired raised more than £7,825 for Pilgrims.
Officer Dean Quinn presented the cheque to Cate Russell, Pilgrims Chief Executive, at the Ashford hospice. Dean said: “We are so pleased to hand over our donation; friends and colleagues have been very generous in supporting our Kent Blue Solidarity Ride. Leigh was a much-loved officer and sadly taken from us too soon.
Leigh was a much-loved officer and sadly taken from us too soon.
Dean
Since the presentation took place the officers have raised a further £900 and estimate they could reach a fundraising figure as high as £10,000 for Pilgrims. You can still make a donation on the team’s JustGiving page to help Dean and his colleagues achieve their goal.
Retired police offer, Mark Chambers, wrote a poem in memory of Leigh; it was a touching tribute and Pilgrims is pleased to share his special words.
Kent Blue Handlebar Ribbons
Some rode rich bikes all gold carbon fibre
Others rode steel frames worth just a fiver
Some full of aches needed pain-killing pills
Others found it easy; sprinting up hills
Some had done training; strong preparation
Others rode doggedly; sheer desperation
Some rode in lycra geared up for a race
Others in leisure-wear set novice pace
Some powered-on drinking soda and lime
Others used cider to soften each climb
A few sometimes wished they’d just caught the bus,
But rode for a brother – for one of us.
They rode to share in some real solidarity
All rode for the hospice, but we all rode for Leigh.
Kent Blue team who took part in Cycle Challenge 2018 in memory of PC Leigh Harris
Kate Duddell, Pilgrims Hospices Fundraising Manger, said: “It was a very poignant meeting with the officers. The poem was a wonderful tribute and the fundraising cheque will make an enormous contribution to the number of people we can support on our wards and within the community.”
It was a very poignant meeting with the officers. The poem was a wonderful tribute.
Kate Duddell, Pilgrims Hospices Fundraising Manager
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
25th May 2018
Vikings 100-mile Endurance Run
Terry Blackman and Richard Glister are not just regular runners; after Terry found himself in hospital with the fear of not being able to walk again, after a cycle accident in April 2015, he decided that he and his friend Richard were going to run a marathon.
In 2016 Terry and Richard completed their first marathon in 4hrs 26mins, from this moment on they have had the running bug. They then went on to complete the Kent Coastal Marathon in September and Richard is now 26 marathons in and is aiming to complete 100 by the time he reaches the age of 45.
Whilst looking for their next running challenge Terry and Richard came across Saxons, Vikings and Normans Marathons and Challenges website. Both men admit, they fell in love with the medals available and it all snowballed from there. Their running challenges then stepped up a notch when they learnt that for the Vikings 100-mile endurance run you received a belt buckle instead of a medal, their new challenge was decided.
On the 10 March Terry and Richard lined up at 8am to start their 100-mile endurance run along with 100 others. All runners are given 32 hours to complete the endurance run but Terry and Richard had their minds set on finishing in 24 hours. 100 runners began the race, but only 54 finished, Terry placed at a fantastic 14thplace with a time of 22:53:21 with Richard close behind him at 24:43:00.
Community Fundraising Officer, Lydia Todd, asked what kept you going around those 100-miles through the night. Both men answered simply: “We knew we were doing it for Pilgrims Hospices so nothing was going to stop us.”
We knew we were doing it for Pilgrims Hospices so nothing was going to stop us.
Terry and Richard take part in these insane challenges for their own entertainment and to complete their own personal challenges, but for this one, they thought people might think that is was such an insane challenge that they would sponsor them to run it, and they were correct. The generous friends, family and colleagues helped them raise a phenomenal £1,557 for Pilgrims Hospices which represents over 77 hours of specialist nursing care that can be provided to patients in east Kent who are living with incurable illnesses.
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 end of life care given on its wards, to its new wellbeing and social programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
15th May 2018
Marathon Man 365 takes on new challenge for Pilgrims Hospices
Ben Rogers from East Malling has supported Pilgrims Hospices over recent years by fundraising for them with his epic marathon running. This year he’s decided to take on a new challenge, the Last One Standing race, on 9 June 2018.
Starting at 12pm runners have one hour to complete the first 4.2 mile loop and then need to be back at the start line ready to go at 1pm, then again at 2pm and so on. This will happen every hour until there’s only one runner left at the start line.
“I decided to start fundraising for Pilgrims after I lost my step-father, Doug, to kidney cancer in November 2015. Pilgrims Hospice Ashford were amazingly supportive to both Doug and my mum. Before coming into contact with Pilgrims, my belief was that hospices were sad places to be at the end of someone’s life. That couldn’t be further from the truth, so I wanted to do something to raise funds for them.”
Ben initially decided to run just one marathon in aid of Pilgrims, but after researching and befriending several multiple marathon runners he was inspired to take on the challenge of doing one a day for a year.
The idea of running a marathon every day sounded completely nuts looking back on it, but when I was doing it, it seemed completely normal.
Ben
Ben started his original incredible challenge at the London Marathon in 2016 and finished by running the Brighton Marathon a year later in 2017, running a total of 9,563 miles! He explained: “The idea of running a marathon every day sounded completely nuts looking back on it, but when I was doing it it seemed completely normal.”
After taking part in the Brighton and London marathons once again in 2018 Ben wanted to do something new so he decided to take part in the Last One Standing event, which is very much an endurance race.
Isabel Smith, Community Fundraising Officer at Pilgrims Hospice Ashford, said: “We wish Ben strong legs and much perseverance as he takes on this new challenge. The money he’s raised for Pilgrims Hospices enables us to continue offering our care free of charge to the people of east Kent.”
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or visit our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
