Family fun coastal dog walk for pawsome volunteering family
Regular Pilgrims Hospices volunteer Ginny Taylor along with family and friends have signed up to walk the Paws 4 Pilgrims sponsored dog walk on Sunday 29 March. Ginny is most often found cooking up a storm for a wide variety of the hospice’s events; producing cakes, savouries and many scrumptious culinary delights, all to support fundraising events for her chosen charity. On this occasion she’s swapping her apron and kitchen equipment for dog leads and treats for her four-legged friends.
Ginny took part in the fun 5-kilometre dog walk along the beautiful Deal coastline last year and told us: “We had a wonderful time last year, we’ve signed up to take part again this year. I’m walking with my husband, daughter, granddaughter and family friends; Sam and her daughter, Ebony. It’ll be a real family affair and we really can’t wait.
“I really appreciate all of the hard work the hospice care team provide for our local community and, my family have been personally touched by Pilgrims Hospices support several times. I’m very pleased to be helping to raise awareness and sponsorship to help.”
The Paws 4 Pilgrims walk is a fantastic event that everyone can take part in and enjoy.
Ginny Taylor
Between them the family will have three waggy dog tails and, seven pairs of keen supporter legs; they are all ready to join hundreds of others who will embark on the popular annual event.
“Deal is very pretty, the walk was fantastic last year; the sun shone and our dogs, Buddy, Ralph and Tilly loved taking part in the fun dog show, with Ralph winning a 3rd place rosette in the cutest puppy competition.” she added.
You can register to take part in Paws 4 Pilgrims here.
Karen Kenward, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager said: “By supporting this fun dog walk, you’re helping to support people within our community who need specialist palliative care; both within the hospices and at home. Don’t forget you do not need a dog to join the walk.
“Thank you Ginny for joining in with the fun again this year, we anticipate lots of laughter and a lot love and affection for the dogs who are walking for Pilgrims. We look forward to seeing you there.”
Ginny said: “The Paws 4 Pilgrims walk is a fantastic event that everyone can take part in and enjoy. Whether you are an experienced walker or just enjoy a gentle stroll with your pet pooch, it’s so pretty and the dogs will have much fun with all of their new-found furry friends.”
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 click here to read about our Wellbeing Programme.
26th February 2020
Jane’s passion for painting with textiles
Jane Dickins’s passion for art and fabrics has led her to volunteer for Pilgrims Hospices in the High Street shop in Deal. She is an avid up-cycler and loves to create works of art with interesting fabrics. One of Pilgrims volunteers spotted Jane’s keen eye for detail and creative flair on a visit to source fabrics in the Deal shop. She was asked to consider joining the Monday afternoon volunteer team and has been a regular volunteer ever since.
Jane told us: “I’ve always loved visiting Pilgrims shops when searching for fabrics and creative ideas.
“I often check out the rag collections and find some brilliant materials to work with. That’s the great thing about my work creating with fabrics; garments don’t need to be perfect, I deconstruct them for my designs; giving them a new lease of life as part of my texture and colour fabric pictures and designs.
I’ve always loved visiting Pilgrims shops when searching for fabrics and creative ideas.
Jane Dickins
“It’s great to know nothing is ever wasted from the donations given; the team of volunteers ensure all garments are of good quality before reaching the shelves for customers to purchase. Anything unsuitable is bagged for rags and sold to be made into cleaning materials and similar products.
“For a donation, I select suitable fabrics and colours for my designs, it’s an Aladdin’s cave of wools, cottons, leathers, I think of it as painting with textiles.”
Jane’s artwork
Jane who is originally from Australia enjoyed a career in archaeology specialising in Aboriginal art. She studied at Cambridge and lived in London before falling in love with Deal in Kent where she’s now settled with her husband. Jane uses many of these influences in her fabric designs and pictures, which she works on from her studio in Deal.
Recently Jane exhibited some of her amazing artwork at the contemporary art gallery, Linden Hall Studio in Deal with great success.
She added: “I’m so pleased I’m able to combine my work as an artist with volunteering; I love my regular Monday afternoon slot at the Pilgrims shop, we are a great team and it’s rewarding to know my time supporting in the shop is really helping to make a difference to end of life care in the local community.”
If you would like to find out about volunteer opportunities with Pilgrims Hospices, please click here.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,400 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.
22nd February 2019
How much is that doggie in the window?
The shop windows of Pilgrims Hospices shop on the High Street in Deal are dressed to support the Paws 4 Pilgrims sponsored dog walk that’s taking place on Sunday 24 March.
Jenny Byrne, Pilgrims Retail Manager East, and shop volunteers Doreen Whalley and Ann Needleship have gathered all things doggie to create a fun window display to encourage dog owners to sign up and walk the 5km charity fundraising walk along the beautiful coastal route to raise money for Pilgrims care.
Jenny said: “There’s a brilliant selection of donated items in the window displays, we really hope to make visitors to our shop smile.
“We have wonderful shoppers who use our store regularly along with many day trippers who are picking up a bargain while visiting the seaside town of Deal.
“It’s a lovely opportunity to share the news of this fun fundraising event, especially as it’s happening in our own town. We hope to encourage lots more people to sign-up and join in with the event and raise important funds for people who need our help the most.”
The Deal shop is open from Monday thru Saturday 9:30 am – 4:30 pm: “We are full to the brim with some beautiful pre-loved clothing, trinkets, books, curiosities and lots more, please come and visit us. So why not ‘paws’ for a moment, and come in and browse.” added Jenny.
Did you know that Pilgrims Hospices has over 30 shops in east Kent? Your donations and purchases make a huge contribution to Pilgrims Hospices charity; allowing the care team to support over 2,400 each year on hospices wards in the hospices in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet as well and within the community and in peoples own homes.
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 Wellbeing and Social Programme.
26th February 2018
Ella and Pal stroll out for Pilgrims
Ella Williams from Canterbury and her gorgeous two-year-old black Labrador, Pal, will join Pilgrims Hospices Paws 4 Pilgrims fun 5K dog walk on Sunday 25 March. Ella and her puppy friend are taking part in loving memory of three very special people who all spent time in the care of nurses at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury. The pair have already raised more than £250 to help others who need Pilgrims care in the local area.
Hundreds of supporters and their canine buddies have already signed up to raise important funds for Pilgrims by walking the beautiful coastal route in Deal, followed by a fun dog show.
The hospice exceeded our family expectations; we could not have asked for anything more. We received such high quality care before, during and after all three experiences and will always be grateful.
Ella
Ella is remembering:
John Michael Choules
After being diagnosed with COPD, Grandpa Mike sadly passed away on 20 March 2017 and spent his last few hours at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury. The staff at the hospice spent time with my nan and helped a lot with aftercare, which was much appreciated.
Kenneth George Williams
After a long battle with kidney cancer, Grandpa Ken passed away on 18 August 2017 and spent his final week in the care of the lovely nurses at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury. A special mention to the nurse who my nan fondly remembers as ‘Mrs Chatter Box’ who helped all of us, but especially my nan, through this time.
Susan Clare Garcia-Rodriguez
Sue sadly passed away due to breast cancer on 9 September 2012 and spent time in Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, where the nurses provided amazing care and support. Our much loved and very close family friend is still dearly missed and fondly remembered six years on.
Ella said: “I really didn’t know much about hospice care until our close family friend, Sue, spent time there; I then found out more when my grandads also received Pilgrims care.
“The hospice exceeded our family expectations, we could not have asked for anything more. We received such high quality care before, during and after all three experiences and will always be grateful.”
Ella is hoping to raise at least £360 for Pilgrims. She explained: “Pal is just full of energy and will love sharing a Sunday walk with lots of other dogs and their families. We will be walking with my partner Andrew, my brother Josh and my sisters Tas and Tasha – and hopefully my mum Steph, too.
“Pal especially loves a tennis ball and I’m sure she’s going to enjoy taking part in the fun dog events after the sponsored walk.”
Kate Duddell, Pilgrims Fundraising Manager said: “We hope even more people will join us for our special Sunday stroll; you can even join in the walk without a dog. Why not come along and have your face painted as a doggy character and sponsor yourself for a few pounds?
“The dog show starts at 12pm, and a variety of stalls and catering will be available. It will be great fun to watch the dogs doing their best to impress the judges in the Best Sausage Catcher competition, amongst others.”
Ella told us this is her first Pilgrims fundraising event and hopes it will be one of many to help such a worthy local charity. Sign up here to join Ella and Pal on the day. If you’d like to sponsor Ella and Pal visit Ella’s Just Giving page. Any donations, big or small, will be much appreciated.
Pilgrims is a charity providing palliative care free of charge to people in east Kent. For people with a range of life-limiting illnesses, specialist services are provided from our three sites in Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet, in patients’ homes and in the community. We offer a range of services, from end of life care given on our wards to our new Wellbeing and Social Programmesupporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent. Only 25% of the funding we receive comes from the government.
