Kent Keep Fit Association present funds for Pilgrims
Kent Keep Fit Association (KFA) recently celebrated sixty diamond years, supporting Pilgrims Hospices throughout 2019 and onwards to 2020.
The Kent Keep Fit Association has been raising money for two much loved local charities throughout 2019; Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent and Ellenor Hospice in north and west Kent. They held their 60th AGM planned for 14 March and as the time grew nearer so did the fears over the coronavirus and whether the AGM should go ahead. After frantic communication between the executive committee and teachers, it was decided at the last minute to proceed but with the decision to attend solely down to individuals.
Approximately 120 people attended, and many comments were received to thank the committee for proceeding with what was a most enjoyable day, even with some added challenges to protect attendees with lots sanitising liquid and rubber gloves, as health and wellbeing was at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
The members have been raising funds for the local charities supporting end of life care in Kent and activities included sponsored walks, collections at the classes and other community initiatives.
The local groups together with the county and regional teams performed 10 wonderful routines with uplifting music which had the audience clapping along and singing.
June Bryant sent everyone home with a smile as she got everyone on the floor for a finale dance to Abba’s “Dancing Queen”. It was a very uplifting afternoon of fitness, friendship and fun (which sums up the KFA in a nutshell)!
Kate Duddell, Fundraising Manager for Pilgrims Hospices said: “It was a lovely afternoon, even practicing my own dancing skills when I joined in the finale of Dancing Queen. I can’t thank the Kent Keep Fit Association enough for choosing Pilgrims Hospices as one of their Charities of the Year in 2019 and I was even more thrilled to find out we will also be the same chosen charities for 2020. I’ll keep practicing my dancing for the next AGM.”
Kate added: “We would like to thank all those who have step by dancing step raised an incredible £1,500 for end of life care in east Kent. The amount raised for hospice care is so valuable and will allow us to provide the best possible support to families who need us. Every £20 could pay for nursing care, either on our wards or in a patient’s own home, so the funds raised through our community’s own events, such as these are vital to the work Pilgrims Hospices does across east Kent.”
Jackie Winder, Hon Secretary, Kent KFA, said: “Kent KFA were so lucky to be able to hold our AGM and we were very pleased to welcome Kate from Pilgrim’s Hospices and Melissa from Ellenor Hospice and be able to present our fundraising cheques to them. Kent KFA has a long tradition of raising money for charity and has chosen Pilgrims and Ellenor again for their annual charities. Our teachers and class members are an inspiration in their fundraising efforts and we sincerely hope that the sponsored walk, which is organised for July this year, can go ahead as planned. “