Sally Gibbs has supported Pilgrims Hospices with a spontaneous head shave to help raise vital funds to support end of life care. To make this challenge even more memorable Sally’s head was shaved by her mother- in-law, Sylvia Gibbs who is currently receiving care in Margate.
Sally said; “I would just like to thank everyone that supported me and donated towards this amazing charity.
“Pilgrims Hospices go above and beyond to help and care for loved ones. I just wanted to show my appreciation for everything they do.
“By shaving my head, together we raised £2,000, which was a great effort. Thank you and everyone and stay safe.”
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager said; “Having incredible people like Sally and Sylvia supporting our charity helps us to continue to provide daily palliative care throughout east Kent to the next person that needs us.
“£25 would pay for one hour of specialist nursing care in one of our inpatient units. Sally, Sylvia, family and friends have helped provide 80 hours to the next person that needs us.
“Thank you to each and everyone of you that made a donation to make this possible, and most of all thank you Sally for taking on this courageous challenge.”
Care is provided from three hospice sites in Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford 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.
If you would like to take on a challenge in support of our charity, please contact:
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patient’s to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
7th August 2020
Plantlet in Broadstairs raises £1,450 for Pilgrims Hospices
Izzi Brown the owner of Plantlet in Broadstairs has supported Pilgrims Hospices by making face coverings and selling a staggering 290 to her regular customers.
Izzi said; “After making myself a plant themed face covering, customers began asking where they could get them. So I decided to make some to sell in the shop and raise funds for Pilgrims Hospices.
“I couldn’t believe the demand! In just under 2 weeks, I have made and sold 290 face covering, selling them at £5 each and therefore raising £1,450. This involved many very late nights and early mornings! I only intended on making a few masks in the hope of raising a little bit of money.
Thank you Izzi for being so creative and thinking of us at such difficult times for all.
Karen – Pilgrims
“I have been blown away by the support of my wonderful customers. Unfortunately as I also run the business, I have now made the decision that 290 masks is where I am going to have to stop!
“I have had family members cared for by the hospice; I am so pleased to have done something to help support them during these difficult times for charities.”
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager said: “Izzi and our local community provide ongoing donations that enable us to continue to provide daily palliative care throughout east Kent to those who need us most. We really need them more than ever now in these challenging times.
“We cannot thank you all enough for every penny donated to support our care. £1,400 would cover the cost of our community care teams at one of our sites for 24 hours. Thank you Izzi for being so creative and thinking of us at such difficult times for all.”
If you would like to take on a challenge in support of our charity, please contact: Fundraisingto find your local area Pilgrims Hospices fundraising manager, or look at our new virtual site for ideas: StayHomeHospiceHero.
We need you more than ever, Thank you.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patient’s to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
Care is provided from three hospice sites in Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford 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.
3rd July 2020
Thanet Sunrise Rotary Club annual Big Knit
The Thanet Sunrise Rotary Club’s generous £1,000 donation comes at a time when Pilgrims Hospices really needs the support of the community of east Kent. The money has been raised through the annual community ‘Rotary Big Knit’.
Caroline Winzer from Thanet Sunrise Rotary Club said: “Each year Thanet Sunrise Rotary Club organise a very special community event; the ‘Rotary Big Knit’ which takes place in April raising thousands of pounds in just one afternoon and attended by over 150 knitters.
“Four charities are nominated each year to benefit from this one event and Pilgrims Hospice, Thanet had been one of those charities this year.
“The Club were devastated to cancel the event due to the COVID-19 crisis, but a small handful of knitters still donated or knitted in isolation and collected almost £1000.
“This generosity together with other funds already raised during the previous months enabled the club to still donate £1000. Thanet Sunrise Rotary Club meet weekly for breakfast and are pictured here at their Christmas breakfast meeting” (photo taken prior to the Covid 19 outbreak in the UK).
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager for Pilgrims Hospice Thanet said: “Our charity is facing challenging times during the COVID-19 outbreak; the Rotary Club’s very generous donation of £1,000 couldn’t have come at a better time. The past few months have been unexpectedly difficult for Pilgrims Hospices, despite this our vital work has not stopped and we still continue to provide compassionate care and support at our hospices and in the community to ensure our patients, their families and our staff are all remaining safe.”
Pilgrims has launched the Still Here; Still Caring Appeal, where the local community and businesses are making donations to support the hospices whilst the normal fundraising activities are postponed. www.pilgrimshospices.org/still-caring
In order to keep the core of event supporters interested during these difficult times, the fundraising team has launched a new virtual campaign called #StayHomeHospiceHero. This is helping our team remain engaged with our wonderful local community and offers opportunities to continue to help us from home, such as a virtual hike around the Isle of Wight in July and a Virtual Pet Show.
Karen continued: “Our care team has developed and implemented lots of change to adapt and respond to our patients needs during lockdown, they continue to deliver end-of-life services both within our inpatient units and in the community by telephone and online facilities.”
If you would like to take on a challenge in support of our charity, please contact Karen Kenward call 01843 233934 or email: [email protected] or look at Pilgrims new virtual site for ideas.
We need you more than ever, thank you.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patient’s to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
27th April 2020
The Rotary Club of Thanet support Pilgrims Hospices
The Rotary Club of Thanet are unable to meet at the Royal Temple Yacht Club for their regular Monday evenings, during the coronavirus lockdown. They have generously donated their weekly meal money to local charities who are being affected within the community.
Neal Elliott from the Rotary Club said: “We are donating £1,000 to Pilgrims Hospices who are short of funds due to the current crisis, along with donations to other charities.”
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager said: “With the charity facing challenging times, together with everyone in the UK due to the COVID-19 outbreak this generous donation of £1,000 couldn’t have come at a better time.
“The past few weeks have been unexpectedly difficult for Pilgrims Hospices. Sadly, we recently had to ask most of our incredible 1,500 volunteers to stay safely at home, close our shops, cancel or postpone many of our fundraising activities.
“Despite this, our vital work has not stopped. We still continue to provide compassionate care and support at our hospices and in the community to ensure our patients, their families and our staff are all remaining safe.
The charity has developed and implemented lots of changes to adapt and respond at this time for the community that needs its services. It has been creative about how it can continue to deliver services both within its inpatient units and to those it cares for and supports in the community by telephone and online facilities.
It costs £14 million per year to run the full range of Pilgrims clinical services. To do this, the charity relies heavily on the support and generosity of the local community. It has to raise 80% of the £14 million and these costs are generated through fundraising and donations. The coming months will be an extremely challenging time for Pilgrims and it remains positive, creative and innovative to aim to be there for the next family that needs its clinical care.
Karen added: “I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for thinking of Pilgrims Hospices in such difficult times; we are so very humbled and grateful.”
Please note: All photos featured were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are so many ways you can continue to support Pilgrims, even from your homes. Visit the Pilgrims website for some virtual challenges and become a #StayHomeHospiceHero, helping to make a difference from your home.
We need you more than ever; our local community means everything to us.
Thank you.
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 supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
6th April 2020
Thanet Police Theatre Club raises £4,400 for Pilgrims Hospices
The annual pantomime production from the Thanet Police Theatre Club panto has raised an incredible £4,400 for Pilgrims Hospices care.
Cast members from the magical and hugely entertaining ‘Wizard from Auss’ met with Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager for Pilgrims Hospice Thanet to celebrate the fantastic donation in support of the much-loved local hospice.
Martin Luke Douglas, the production co-director said: “Pilgrims Hospices is an important part of our community, we know our donation will be contributing to vital services for local people. I would like to thank everyone for continuing to support them at such difficult times for all of us.”
Karen said: “Each year the Police Theatre Club pantos are such great entertainment for the whole family. This year, it was even more special for me, it was my favourite.
“I would like to give a special mention to the most talented Jeff Barker, who played the scarecrow; what a wonderful performance, he’s so talented and the character was surreal!
“I have to say the whole cast were absolutely brilliant. I cannot wait to see next year’s Jack and the Beanstalk production.”
Pilgrims Hospices send hearty congratulations to the Theatre Club for giving such a brilliant performance and grateful thanks for this generous donation. The hospices are dependant on the local community to help support end-of-life care services; without them, we simply wouldn’t be here.
Please note: All photos featured were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Care is provided from three hospice sites in Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford, 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.
15th January 2020
Popular seaside golf club generously supports Pilgrims Hospices
North Foreland Golf Club has supported Pilgrims Hospice Thanet throughout 2019. The popular Broadstairs golf club generously donated almost £20,000 for hospice care.
The annual coffee morning raised £1,225, Old and Bold Men’s team added £1,000 to the growing total with an additional £245 from the Golf Society. Pilgrims were presented a magnificent £17,000 on New Year’s Day; the money was raised through a grand raffle draw organised by Richard Keel, North Foreland men’s captain.
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager said: “Thank you so much for these incredible donations.
Joan Stanford, North Foreland Golf Club with Caroline Dixon, Pilgrims Hospices
“It costs £20 per hour to provide nursing care; North Foreland supporters will provide over 973 hours of patient care.
“Thank you to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket, a cake, a book or donated in support of Pilgrims Hospices.
“We would not be able to provide care without your generosity.”
Arthur King from the Old and Bold of North Foreland Golf Club with Karen Kenward, Pilgrims Hospices
If you would like to support Pilgrims by organising a fundraising event, please contact your local Pilgrims fundraising team, they will be delighted to hear from you.
Care is provided from three hospice sites in Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford 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.