Pauline thanks Pilgrims Hospices with kind donation in memory of husband, Jim
Jim Jeffrey from Ashford received Pilgrims Hospices care in 2024.
Jim had Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), which affected his body and mobility, and Motor Neurone Disease (MND); attending the Time to Create therapeutic art group at the Ashford hospice enabled him to make the most of the time he had.
When Jim died, in lieu of flowers, his family and friends fundraised for Pilgrims. The money raised bought a projector, speaker and stand to enhance the charity’s Wellbeing Programme so that others can continue to benefit from this vital care.
Jim’s wife, Pauline, presented the donations to the Wellbeing team. She said:
“I want to express my deep gratitude for the care and support Jim received from Pilgrims, a charity that will forever hold a special place in my heart. Despite his health conditions and the challenges he faced, he fought with resilience. His battle was long and hard, but he showed incredible strength and courage throughout.
“Jim took part in Pilgrims Wellbeing groups for six months, and I can’t tell you how much that experience meant to him and our family. The groups brought a light to Jim’s life that I hadn’t seen in a long time, giving him purpose and happiness during a period when those things felt out of reach. They gave us cherished memories that I will hold onto forever.
Pauline and Jim
“The nurses and wider team were so attentive to his wellbeing, and the compassion and kindness shown to us during that time was nothing short of amazing. I’d like to give a special mention to Jan Murphy, Pal Sharma, and the rest of the wonderful team who made such a positive impact on Jim’s life. I will always be so thankful, and I can only hope that others who need Pilgrims care find the same support that we did.
“Sadly, we lost Jim on 6 June 2024, but felt it would be fitting to raise money for the Wellbeing services that brought him so much joy. When we asked the team what they would like to invest the money in, they chose a projector, speaker and stand to enhance the services they provide. It’s comforting to know that these items will be used to continue bringing happiness and support to others.”
Pal Sharma and Jan Murphy, Wellbeing Practitioners, said:
“We’re so grateful to Pauline and her family and friends for this kind and generous donation. The speaker and projector are fantastic additions to our wellbeing sessions, especially for Living Well and Time to Create groups. The projector will allow guest speakers to display their presentations during Living Well, and it can also be used to play creative and artistic videos during Time to Create.
“The speakers will enable group participants to play their preferred music during sessions. Music has a powerful effect on our patients and carers, helping them to relax and uplift their spirits.”
Pauline added: “I sincerely hope that others who are able to contribute will do so, to help Pilgrims continue the amazing work they do.”
For more information on Pilgrims Hospices’ Wellbeing Programme:
Call the Pilgrims Hospices Advice Line on 01233 504 133
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.
24th September 2024
Super fundraiser Sian raises over £1,000 for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of mum
Sian fundraised in memory of her mum, Denise, who received Pilgrims care in 2022.
Sian and Denise
Sian felt so supported by Pilgrims during her mum’s illness that she wanted to give back.
She said: “Pilgrims regularly checked in, ensuring she was comfortable with the huge changes in her life that she was about to face. They fitted aids throughout our home to support her as her physical strength gradually worsened.
“In the days leading up to her passing, she got sick. We phoned Pilgrims for advice, and they informed our GP and requested a scan. On the morning of the scan, Mum struggled to get up. I called Pilgrims and they told me to phone the hospital. This became one of the last days we spent with Mum; without Pilgrims’ guidance, we wouldn’t have had that extra time with her before she passed.
“During this period when Mum was unwell, I was on my own caring for her whilst trying to balance working a full-time job as well as making time for myself. Pilgrims acted as a friend, offering advice and support.
“No one can prepare you to lose a parent. Life is short, and although I would’ve loved to spend the rest of my life with Mum, having those extra days with her made me eternally grateful – and it’s all thanks to Pilgrims for listening to me on the other end of that phone call.
Sian took on The Big Half on Sunday 1 September 2024.
Sian at The Big Half 2024
Her friends, family and local gym – Muscle Hut in Ashford – helped her to raise more than £1,000 for Pilgrims.
She added:
“I’m so grateful for the support Pilgrims provided throughout a very difficult time on our family. They were always within arm’s reach, and I’m extremely excited to be giving back to them in any way I can.”
Pilgrims has a limited number of charity places in The Big Half 2025, you can secure your spot on the start line today, for free, with a pledge to raise at least £350 sponsorship for hospice care.
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.
10th September 2024
Pilgrims Hospices calls for piano players to share the gift of music
Pilgrims Hospices in Ashford is extending an invitation to the community to bring the soothing sounds of music to their sanctuary space.
The hospice, known for its compassionate care, believes that music has the power to bring comfort, relaxation, and a sense of peace to patients, families, and staff alike.
They are calling on piano players from the local area to volunteer their time and talents to play the piano in the hospice’s tranquil sanctuary.
Music has long been recognised as a therapeutic tool, with the ability to ease anxiety, uplift spirits, and create a calming atmosphere. At Pilgrims Hospices, the gentle melodies that flow from the piano can be heard in the ward and the offices, bringing a sense of serenity to everyone in the building. For patients in palliative care, and their families who are often navigating incredibly challenging times, this small act of kindness can make a world of difference.
“We’ve seen first-hand how music can transform the atmosphere here at the hospice,” says Wendy Kelk, Hospice Services Manager at Pilgrims Hospices. “A simple tune played on the piano can bring smiles, spark conversations, and even provide a moment of reflection and peace. We’re inviting anyone who can play the piano, even if it’s just for 10 minutes, to consider stopping by and sharing their gift with us. It’s a small gesture that has a truly profound impact.”
The request is simple: if you or someone you know can play the piano, consider donating a bit of your time, whether it’s once a month, once a week, or simply when the mood strikes. The hospice welcomes these spontaneous performances, knowing that the presence of live music can enhance wellbeing and provide a comforting backdrop to the daily routines of care.
For those interested, there is no need to schedule a formal appointment. The hospice encourages anyone with the ability to play to simply drop in and share their music. You are welcome to come in, when our reception is open, and during visiting hours; the piano awaits the touch of kind-hearted volunteers who wish to contribute to the hospice’s nurturing environment.
By offering just a few minutes of your time, you can help create an atmosphere that soothes, heals, and connects. Pilgrims Hospices deeply appreciates the community’s support in making their space one of comfort and tranquillity.
For more information, please contact Wendy Kelk, Hospice Services Manager:
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.
6th September 2024
Pilgrims Hospices patients showcase artwork at Margate exhibition
Pilgrims Hospices offer many therapeutic activities through its Wellbeing Programme, giving both patients and carers the opportunity to try something new.
They can help with relaxation, reducing anxiety and forming new social connections.
Beverley with her husband, John
Time to Create therapeutic art group sessions provide creative and social activities to enjoy with others.
In July 2024, patients attending Time to Create were invited by local artist, Beverley Parker, to showcase their artwork in her exhibition Then & Now at Pie Factory, Margate. Beverley’s husband, artist John Horton, was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury in 2023. The exhibition was dedicated to his memory.
John had prostate cancer and was referred to Pilgrims in 2022. He chose to remain at home, rather than going into the hospice, and received support and care at home when he approached the end of life.
Beverley said: “Pilgrims played an enormous part; they were supportive, caring and understanding, treating him with dignity and a gentle sense of humour, which he would have loved. They guided me through his last hours, and he died peacefully on 25 September 2023.
“I turned to the hospice nurses after John’s death. There was someone on the phone who listened when I had no one else to talk to late at night, and they put me in contact with the counselling services at Pilgrims, which has been so helpful.
“Through visiting the Canterbury hospice, I saw a different side to the hospice than I had imagined. The first time I walked into the reception area and saw the boxes of tissues on the tables, I could hardly say my name I was so upset. However, I also felt an enormous sense of comfort. The volunteers on reception were warm and friendly. It didn’t smell like a hospital (which I dreaded), there were flowers, there was art on the walls, people were smiling.
Time to Create patients with their artwork
“I heard about Time to Create, and as an artist I was very interested in art as therapy, recognising how powerful it is – it is a living statement, it is positive and empowering. I met Sharon from the Wellbeing team and patients attending the sessions, and I asked if they would like to exhibit their work with me at my exhibition. It was a success. We had a private view where I met more of the artists and their families, and that was particularly poignant – to meet others who are currently going through what I had been going through. We hugged, there were a few tears, but there was so much joy in the gallery. I felt I was giving something back for the support I’d received from the hospice. John was an artist himself, and he would have been delighted to have seen the work we all exhibited.”
Patients created their exhibition artwork within Time to Create sessions at each hospice in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet. They enjoyed the process and seeing their work showcased in a gallery. The Wellbeing team showed digital versions of the artwork in the Pilgrims Therapy Centre, for patients who were unable to attend the exhibition.
Sharon Smith, Wellbeing Practitioner Team Leader, said:
“It was an amazing opportunity for our Time to Create participants to be invited to showcase their creative work alongside Beverley’s artwork. Patients allowed their emotions – happiness, sadness, even anger – to guide their creativity. Attending the private view and seeing them show their work to family members and friends, reminded me how important creativity can be. It allows people to express themselves, improves wellbeing and makes people feel empowered.”
For more information on Pilgrims Hospices’ Wellbeing Programme:
Call the Pilgrims Hospices Advice Line on 01233 504 133
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.
3rd September 2024
Trees of Love: Jenny’s story
Jenny remembers her husband, Graham, by dedicating a dove in his memory at Pilgrims Hospices annual Trees of Love remembrance campaign.
My husband Graham was a kind and generous man, a nature and animal lover. He was particularly musical; he sang, played piano and performed the clarinet in several orchestras. We met at age 5 while attending the same primary school, but went our separate ways when we progressed to our respective grammar schools. It seems rather fitting, then, that we reunited at a German musical evening hosted by Graham’s school. We would go on to spend a wonderful 55 years together, with our children and grandchildren.
We were introduced to Pilgrims later on in Graham’s illness, around six months before he passed. He often found it difficult to put his thoughts into words, but when presented with the option of more treatment or intervention for his illness, he knew that was not the option for him. While our journey with Pilgrims has been rather short, they have been so very helpful. In times like these, you never quite know who to turn to, but the bereavement support we have been offered has been such a help. When you just want someone to listen, they just let us talk.
I was made aware of Trees of Love through a postal invitation that invited me to dedicate a dove in Graham’s memory. My granddaughter, Charlotte, has recently started art college, which has been such a creative outlet for her. She decorated her grandfather’s dove with a wonderful drawing depicting the owl and pussy cat in a tree, as she discovered he was particularly fond of the poem by Edward Lear. Out of sheer coincidence, my daughter revealed that the week her father had passed, she had found a greetings card depicting the ‘Owl and the Pussy Cat’ scene, too. This has brought our family closer together.
In 2023, I attended the remembrance service at the Thanet hospice. Although I attended alone, it was such a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. I struck up conversation with someone who was by themselves, and it was comforting to share the experience with someone who knew what I was going through.
The service was lovely, and I was happy to have the opportunity to capture a picture of Graham’s dove on the illuminated tree, and take my order of service home to share with my family.
Previously, I had volunteered for another hospice in one of their retail stores, so I had experience in the kind of care that a hospice provides. But having now received that support myself, I can recognise how fantastic they really are. I’m happy to support this wonderful charity in any way that I can.
This December, dedicate a dove to someone special and join us at one of our hospice or satellite remembrance services.
To find out more and to take part in Trees of Love 2024, simply visit pilgrimshospices.org/treesoflove or contact our friendly Supporter Relations team on 01227 782 062 to dedicate a dove today.
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.
29th August 2024
Cheers to the tea-rrific Pilgrims Hospices teams: Celebrating Afternoon Tea Week 2024 with love, laughter, and a feast of flavours!
A huge round of applause to the wonderful Pilgrims Hospices Therapy Centre teams from Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet for treating our patients to the most delightful afternoon teas across all three sites!
Afternoon Tea Week took place nationally from 12 – 18 August 2024; the dedication, warmth, and creativity truly shone through, making the experience unforgettable for everyone involved.
Robyn Moore, Healthcare Assistant
The events were enjoyed by patients who are currently attending Wellbeing groups at each hospice, which provide an opportunity to connect with others who are going through similar experiences. The therapy teams organise visits from guest speakers, who deliver talks and interactive workshops on a variety of topics, helping patients to open up and share their own interests. Importantly, the groups also offer a space to relax and switch off for a few hours.
Patients at the Canterbury hospice welcomed visitors from Retreat into Wonderland, an animal rescue charity based in Herne Bay, to their afternoon tea event. Shetland ponies greeted everyone in the hospice gardens, contributing to a calm and comforting atmosphere.
The Thanet hospice enjoyed an interesting and informative talk from the Kent Police fraud team, and Ashford patients were entertained by a classical guitarist.
Sharon Smith, Wellbeing Practitioner Team Leader, said: “Afternoon Tea Week celebrates the great British tradition of afternoon tea and is the perfect excuse to catch up with loved ones over a cup of tea and some delicacies.”
A special shout-out to our amazing catering team, whose planning and passion turned these afternoon teas into a feast of flavours and joy. Every bite was a reminder of the love and care that goes into everything you do. The smiles on everyone’s faces said it all!
Let’s raise our teacups high in celebration of this cherished tradition and the incredible efforts of our teams who make moments like these so special. Thank you for being the heart and soul of our community!
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.
