The countdown to Christmas has officially begun with Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Harbour!
Hundreds of festive fundraisers got into the ho, ho, holiday spirit by dashing along the Folkestone seafront on Sunday 4 December 2022 at Santas on the Harbour!
The historic Folkestone Harbour Arm was filled with Christmas cheer as over 250 honorary Santas and elves registered to run, jog, skip and walk their way along the 3k or 5k route in support of Pilgrims Hospices, who care for thousands of local people each year living with an incurable illness.
Many families enjoyed the jolly jog.
Early estimations show that this year, Santas on the Run! Tri-Series will raise in excess of £20,000. This could help fund the entire cost of Pilgrims Hospices community care teams for four days, as they provide specialist end-of-life care to patients spending Christmas at home with their families, and creating lasting memories.
Louise Newman, Community Fundraising Manager for Ashford Hospice said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone that braved the cold winds on Sunday at the Harbour Arm and along the chilly seafront. We really appreciate all of the wonderful fundraising from our Santas and elves, this will make a real difference to the many families being cared for by Pilgrims this Christmas.”
Santas on the Harbour is part of the Santas on the Run Tri Series, with festive runs taking place over three consecutive weekends in Herne Bay, Folkestone and Margate. Since the event began in 2017, Santas on the Run! has become a family tradition in the seaside towns as a way to celebrate the countdown to Christmas, and has gone on to raise over £161,000 for local hospice care.
There’s still time to have your ‘elf’ a merry day out with friends, family and colleagues by registering on the day at Santas on the Seashore! in Margate on Sunday 11 December. Simply head to the start venue at Fort Crescent, Margate CT9 1HX and register between 09:30-10:40am.
Wishing all Pilgrims supporters and all our speedy Santas a very Merry Christmas!
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
2nd December 2022
The countdown to Christmas has officially begun with Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Run! Tri-Series
Hundreds of festive fundraisers embraced the ho, ho, holiday spirit on Sunday 27 November 2022 as they dashed along Herne Bay seafront at Santas on the Bay! all for a good Claus.
Herne Bay was filled with Christmas cheer as more than 400 honorary Santas and elves ran, jogged, skipped and walked their way along the 3k or 5k route in support of Pilgrims Hospices, who care for thousands of local people each year who are living with an incurable illness.
The event is supported by a number of local companies and schools, including Wahl. Grace Gummer from the Herne Bay-based company told us: “We love supporting this fantastic festive event for such a deserving local charity. It brings the community together and raises money in aid of the great care that Pilgrims Hospices offer families at such a difficult time.”
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Early estimations show that this year, Santas on the Run! Tri-Series will raise in excess of £20,000. This could help fund the entire cost of Pilgrims Hospices’ community care teams for four days, as they provide specialist end-of-life care to patients spending Christmas at home with their families, and creating lasting memories.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome hundreds of supporters to Herne Bay seafront, who donned their Santa and elf costumes to kick-start the festive season. The wet weather couldn’t dampen our Christmas spirits as onlookers cheered our supporters across the festive finish line. Thank you to everyone taking part who raised vital funds so we can continue delivering specialist end-of-life care to those who need us across east Kent.”
Since the event began in 2017, Santas on the Run! has become a family tradition in the seaside town as a way to celebrate the countdown to Christmas, and has gone on to raise over £161,000 for local hospice care. In 2019, the event added fun runs in Folkestone and Margate to create the Santas on the Run! Tri-Series, bringing the jolliest jog of the year to seafronts across east Kent.
There’s still time to have your ‘elf’ a merry day out with friends, family and colleagues by registering on the day at Santas on the Harbour! in Folkestone on Sunday 4 December, or registering in advance for Santas on the Seashore! on Sunday 11 December.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
24th August 2022
Pilgrims Hospices make patient’s wedding wish come true
Elaine and Jason Edwards, a former carpenter, from Herne Bay were married in a civil ceremony at Jason’s flat on Saturday 30 July 2022. This was an extra special occasion, as Jason has motor neurone disease (MND) and is receiving support from Pilgrims Hospices.
The charity helped to make their big day possible, enabling them to create beautiful memories that will last forever.
The family is incredibly grateful for Pilgrims’ care, which frequently extends beyond its physical hospices and into the wider east Kent community.
Martyn Yates, Spiritual Care Lead and Complementary Therapist at Pilgrims, was integral in organising Elaine and Jason’s marriage.
Jason and Elaine on their wedding day
Elaine said: “Our experience with Pilgrims Hospices has been totally amazing. We had Martyn come out and see us from the spiritual care team, to help us with getting married. He was amazing. He was very informative, and due to all his help, we were married at home in Jason’s flat with a few family members and very close friends in attendance.
Martyn Yates
“Pilgrims gives us as a family help and support in ways we never imagined possible. They are on hand for help and advice 24 hours a day; it gives us peace of mind knowing that they are there throughout this hard time in our lives. It means so much to us that they are here for us. They do an amazing job, and we can’t thank them enough for all they do.”
Martyn added: “One of the really important parts of the work we do at Pilgrims is to make every day as good as it can be for both our patients and their families – so they can live their lives to the full. Our links with community agencies help us to do this; in this case, the Canterbury registrars pulled out all the stops, and between us we were able to achieve Elaine and Jason’s wishes. It is so lovely to be able to do things like this for our patients and their families.”
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
15th July 2020
Sarah and ‘Tony’s Team’ think on their feet for Pilgrims
“It’s been one year since we said goodbye to Tony, my stepfather, to lung cancer. I cannot tell you how much the resource and support of Pilgrims Hospices, Canterbury meant to us, and Tony, during 2019. The hospice was absolutely invaluable and nurses, doctors and staff were there for us through the toughest time.”
On Sunday 12 July 2020, Sarah should have been stood at the start line of the Herne Bay 10k; a local running event organised and hosted by @InvictaEastKentAC. The decision to run in the Herne Bay 10k as part of #TeamPilgrims was a straight forward one for Sarah, she said: “I chose to run the Herne Bay 10k this year as it encompasses the place Tony lived and loved with my mum during his final years. We had so many happy memories at the Hampton Park and at the pier crabbing; it just felt right to join.”
Sarah’s stepfather Tony
Unfortunately, like many events across the country, due to COVID-19 the local running event was cancelled for the safety of the participants, volunteers and the local community. Sarah didn’t let this stop her though. Along with ‘Tony’s Team’, a group of friends who fundraise together for Pilgrims in memory of Tony, they ran their very own Herne Bay 10k; same route, same day, same purpose! They even received well-deserved medals and certificates when they crossed the finish line
We were determined to not let COVID-19 affect our important fundraising event.
Sarah
When asked why they chose to do their own Herne Bay 10k Sarah said: “To go through losing someone during a pandemic is unthinkable. Pilgrims Hospices need our support now more than ever. They have lost income from many fundraising events and their shops and yet, they will still be helping countless families through their darkest hours. In the August of 2019, we set up ‘Tony’s Team’ and challenged ourselves to cycle 25-miles at Divas on Wheels. We were overwhelmed to raise £747 in memory of Tony for Pilgrims Hospices. We are aiming to raise £500 this year, but would love to round off the total amount raised for Pilgrims, from both events, to £1,500 if we can!”
‘Tony’s Team’ have not only reached their target, but have smashed it! Generous friends and family have come out in full force to support them, and have helped them raise £914 for their Herne Bay 10k. This means that their total raised for Pilgrims Hospices is £1,661!
It is thanks to people like Sarah, and ‘Tony’s Team’, that we are able to care for over 2,500 patients each year, whether this is in one of our three inpatient units in Ashford, Canterbury and Margate, or in patient’s own homes. The money raised by ‘Tony’s Team’ could cover the cost of our community care teams at one of our sites for just over 24 hours
Sarah, and ‘Tony’s Team’, are fundraising for Pilgrims to ensure that future families can receive the dedicated care and support that theirs did at such a difficult time. Of their fundraising Sarah said: “We were determined to not let COVID-19 affect our important fundraising event. We had family and friends supporting along the route to cheer us along! This is such an important cause. We are thrilled to have still managed to raise awareness and important funds for Pilgrims Hospices during this time. We are lucky to have Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent and together, we can keep it supporting other families in need.”
This year alone, Pilgrims Hospices has to raise £11 million through voluntary donations in order to run our full range of services. Sponsorship raised through events like these helps us to continue caring for local people at the end of their lives.
3rd June 2020
Su and Zahra White walk with their memories along the Hadrian’s Wall Path
The month of June is a special time of year for Su and Zahra White, and this year they’ve chosen to walk with the memories of a very dear mum and nanny, as they challenge themselves to hiking 88-miles to raise funds for local hospice care by taking part in Pilgrims Hospices Hadrian’s Wall Path Virtual Hike.
In 2015, Su’s mum and Zahra’s nanny, Hazel Riddlesden, learnt that her cancer was now terminal. After being moved into a local care home in Herne Bay, the Pilgrims Hospices Hospice at Home Team began to support Hazel and her family to ensure she continued to live life well in mind, body and soul. The family were told that Hazel was now entering the final days of her life and together, they’d need to decide on the next steps. It was at this point that Hazel asked to be admitted to Pilgrims Hospices for her final days.
Mum asked to be admitted to Pilgrims Hospices in Canterbury as she felt they would provide the peaceful surroundings she wanted to live out her final days.” Su
Hazel spent 5 days with Pilgrims Hospices in June 2015, and the family received an overwhelming level of support and care from the nurses and the wider staff. At such a difficult time, this support enabled the family to spend Hazel’s final days together. Of the care they received, Su White said:
“I knew very little about hospices or the support they provide, but can honestly say that for the wider family it was like someone had taken away all the day-to-day stresses and wrapped all of us in a comfort blanket where we felt safe, and unconditional support. My daughter, Zahra, who was just 8 years old at the time, was very close to her wonderful nanny and she was included in the support given which was very important to us”
After spending so much time inside the house during lockdown, Su and Zahra were attracted to the Hadrian’s Wall Path Virtual Hike as it gave them a reason to explore their local countryside and to push themselves on their daily walks. The virtual hike also naturally fits with the time of year that they especially remember Su’s mum and Zahra’s nanny. Su and Zahra will be walking with the memories of Hazel this June to raise much needed funds to support the nurses, doctors and wider staff who are Still Here; Still Caring for individuals, and families, across east Kent who are living with an incurable illness.
The beautiful seaside town of Herne Bay is home to many public footpaths, open fields, woodlands and coastal paths. Su and Zahra will be taking advantage of these stunning backdrops for their daily hikes as they edge towards their goal of 88 miles to virtually complete the historic Hadrian’s Wall Path.
Su and Zahra have set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for Pilgrims Hospices – if you’d like to support their challenge, you can do here:
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.
9th April 2020
The Heath family raise charity cheer in back garden
Richard and Joanne Heath from Herne Bay built a bar in their back garden, aptly named The Four Heath Clover. They started fundraising for Pilgrims Hospices along with friends and family who visited, in memory of Jo’s sister Julie Beal. The couple have raised £262 in the past 12 months and almost £700 since 2017 for the charity that is very close to their hearts.
Joanne’s sister Julie was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, after her long battle with cancer, she passed away in March 2010 aged 46 years.
We understand the importance of fundraising for this great cause.
Jo Heath
Jo said: “Having seen and experienced how well Julie was cared for in her final week with Pilgrims, we understand the importance of fundraising for this great cause. We have always been a family that love to take part in events to raise money for charity and have taken part in Pilgrims charity events and also play Pilgrims Lottery to support end of life care within our community.”
She added: “We built our home bar ‘The Four Heath Clover’ and held various fundraising days such as sports days, horse racing, ladies only and gents’ only nights. Everyone who attended always gave generously. Julie was a much loved sister, daughter, mum and auntie; she was always the life and soul of a family gathering.
“We do this in memory of Julie and to raise money to help Pilgrims Hospices to continue the wonderful work they do for the east Kent community.”
Leila Ilkhan, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager, said: “It was lovely to meet Richard and Jo and to thank them personally for their support in such an ingenious and creative way.
“They also generously have a Pilgrims collection pot on their bar for extra fundraising, we are extremely grateful to everyone who makes a contribution.
Thank you for supporting in such an ingenious and creative way.
Leila Ilkhan, Pilgrims Hospices
“I think this is a great bit of fundraising and I would love to share to hopefully inspire others to think about how they could fundraise for Pilgrims.”
Please note: This fundraising took place before the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like to fundraise for Pilgrims Hospices in the future,the fundraising team would love to hear from you. Although much of our current fundraising activities are paused due to COVID-19, there are many ways you can still support the charity, including joining Pilgrims Lottery, giving a one-off donationor planning an event for later on this year. We hope, that in time, supporters will be filled with positive spirit and ready to think about how they can get involved when we can all join together again in creative ways such as The Four Heath Clover.
Thank you again. Your support is very much appreciated!
This year alone, Pilgrims Hospices has to raise £11 million through voluntary donations in order to run our full range of services. Sponsorship raised through events like these helps us to continue caring for local people at the end of their lives.
