Thank you for a record breaking year and here’s to 2026!
As we move into spring, we’re looking back with huge gratitude at what you our incredible supporters helped to achieve.
It’s been an extraordinary period for Pilgrims Hospices fundraising, and the impact of those funds is already being felt by patients and families across east Kent.
Every event, every step, every pedal, and every donation helps to ensure specialist hospice care is there when people need it most. Behind the fundraising totals are stories of love, remembrance, community and people coming together to honour someone special, give back for care received or to just take part and enjoy a fantastic Pilgrims event experience.
Walking and cycling challenges remained at the heart of the Pilgrims calendar. Supporters celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Cycle Challenge, marking the milestone by surpassing the previous year’s fundraising total and raising the highest total to date of £157,500.
Then came a truly historic moment: the Pilgrims Way Challenge raised £197,000, the largest amount ever raised by a single Pilgrims event. A phenomenal achievement by everyone who walked, volunteered, supported and donated.
There was thrill-seeking too, with brave supporters taking part in skydives and wing walks, while runners represented Pilgrims in the London and Brighton Marathons, alongside 10Ks, half marathons and races across the region.
2026 began in style with our ever-popular Christmas Tree Recycling scheme. The scheme raised an incredible £84,000, a staggering fundraising total made possible by our wonderful local community, dedicated staff and volunteers, and local businesses who brought their teams, vans and a positive can do attitude to make the event happen.
Cycle Challenge 1
Marathon 1
Pilgrims Way Challenge 1
Fundraising magic also thrives in everyday community life.
Across east Kent, supporters organised:
Bake sales, quiz nights and coffee mornings
Garden parties and sponsored walks
Pub events and wheelie bin races
Supermarket and community collections
Sports matches, concerts and workplace events
Together, these efforts help Pilgrims provide compassionate care in people’s homes, in our hospices in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford, and via our 24-hour advice line.
Your support helps manage pain and symptoms, supports families emotionally and practically, and ensures no one faces life-limiting illness alone.
Your energy, kindness and generosity mean that when local families need us most, we can be there – with comfort, dignity and heart.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
24th March 2026
Ashford Freemasons donate £5,000 to support new patient call system at Pilgrims Hospices
Pilgrims Hospice Ashford has received a generous £5,000 donation from local Freemasons to help fund a new nurses’ call system for patients receiving hospice care.
The donation was made possible through a joint effort by five Ashford-based lodges, each of which pledged £500 towards the appeal:
Ashford Lodge No. 8954
South Kent Lodge No. 4303
St George Bahrain Lodge No. 7389
Stour Lodge No. 2305
Lodge of Loyalty No. 9494
Their combined contribution was then matched by the Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons Charity (CEKFC), bringing the total donation to £5,000.
Derek Warner, South Kent Lodge; Chic Cameron, Castle Lodge; Clive Hallett, St George Bahrain Lodge; Martin Kemp, Hospice Services Manager; Eric Dodd, Stour Lodge; Paul Goodwin, Ashford Lodge; Peter West, CEKFC Secretary; and Vickie, Healthcare Assistant
The grant has helped Pilgrims Hospices fund the purchase and installation of a new Medi Care automated patient alert system, part of a wider investment of more than £13,000. The system enables patients to call for assistance from various points within the building, supporting comfort, reassurance and patient safety, while helping clinical teams respond quickly when needed.
The fundraising initiative was coordinated by Paul Goodwin of Ashford Lodge, who brought the lodges together and submitted the successful matched funding application to CEKFC.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Ashford Freemasons lodges and the Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons Charity for this generous donation.
“The nurses’ call system is a vital part of the care we provide every day, and this support will help us continue to create a safe, responsive and compassionate environment for our patients and their families.”
Freemasons from the participating lodges raised their individual donations through a range of social and fundraising activities, including a Burns night, raffles, BBQs, quizzes, lunches and ladies’ nights, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting hospice care in their local community.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
13th February 2026
Make a Will Month returns – and it’s all about caring for the future
For 13 years, Make a Will Month has seen local solicitors kindly donate their time for a payment to Pilgrims Hospices, helping people make or update their Wills.
Over that time, the campaign has raised an incredible £234,704 to help Pilgrims continue caring for people facing life-limiting illness.
How does it work?
This April, tick something important off your list, and make a difference in your local community at the same time.
“We are incredibly grateful to the solicitors who give their time each year, ensuring people can access trusted legal advice, while helping Pilgrims be there for families when they need us most.”
– Ellie Cane, Individual Giving Manager
Why write your Will
Having an up to date Will gives peace of mind and protects the people you care about, whilst making it easier for your loved ones to follow your wishes when you’re gone. If you don’t have a valid Will, everything you own will be shared following certain rules, rather than according to your personal wishes.
“After people have made their Will, I find that it gives them peace of mind. They leave the office a lot happier than when they came in. A lot of people find it difficult to talk about death, but they often find the process is a lot easier than they expect.”
– Paula Patton, Partner at Boys & Maughan Solicitors
Many people also choose to leave a gift to charity – a lasting way to reflect the causes that matter most to you. Leaving a gift in your Will to Pilgrims Hospices isn’t required to take part in Make a Will Month, but if you choose to, you can help secure the future of hospice care.
Join us this April
By taking part in Make a Will Month 2026, you will help fund compassionate care for local people facing some of life’s toughest moments.
We are so thankful to everyone who chooses to take part, and to the amazing solicitors who make it possible.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
12th February 2026
April’s kind gift in her Will has touched the lives of so many, continuing her legacy of compassion
April was born on April 16, 1934, in Glasgow, Scotland, and passed away on December 16, 2023. She embarked on a remarkable journey in 1958 as a 24-year-old nurse, traveling from Glasgow to Ecuador, marking the beginning of a life filled with overseas adventures.
April
April was known for her practical, no-nonsense demeanour, characterised by thoughtfulness and kindness, which made her an independent woman capable of managing her family while her husband was often away. She was a dedicated nurse, midwife, and later a health visitor, and she volunteered extensively in various charities throughout her life.
April’s adventurous spirit led her to live in diverse places, including Ecuador, Libya, Abu Dhabi, and Aberdeen, adapting to each new environment with resilience and grace.
She was a devoted mother and grandmother, organising her family’s life with efficiency and care. April had a passion for bridge, enjoyed traveling, and was an excellent cook, always ensuring her family was well-fed.
Her life was marked by a strong sense of adventure, a commitment to helping others, and a love for her family. Despite the challenges of dementia in her later years, she remained a cherished figure in her family, remembered for her vibrant and varied life. April’s legacy is one of compassion, adventure, and a steadfast dedication to those she loved.
April didn’t have any direct experience of Pilgrims, however, as a trained nurse, midwife and later a health visitor, she was used to caring for people of all ages, and had some experience of hospices in other areas. After settling in Whitstable in the mid-1990s, she got to know of Pilgrims Hospices as a local charity and chose to support with a gift in her Will.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
10th February 2026
Hannah takes on London Marathon for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of brother
Hannah Brazier from Herne Bay will run the London Marathon on 26 April 2026 in memory of her brother, Kyran, who was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices.
With more than £2,000 raised in sponsorship, Hannah is helping to ensure that other families can continue to benefit from local hospice care.
Hannah with her brother, Kyran
After receiving a Stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis, Kyran spent his final week in Pilgrims’ care; he died at the Canterbury hospice in September 2024, aged 36.
Hannah said: “Our experience as a family was overwhelmingly positive. During Kyran’s stay at the hospice, staff and volunteers gave him exceptional care filled with comfort, dignity and compassion. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and every need was met with kindness, patience and warmth.
“Kyran took great joy in the delicious meals he was served, the friendly jokes he shared with everyone, and the massages that helped ease his pain.
“Knowing he was so well cared for brought our family a great sense of peace.”
Inspired to give back and to say thank you, Hannah signed up to run London Marathon 2026 for Pilgrims. With the support of family and friends, she has already raised over £2,000, and with a few months still to go until the big day, she hopes to raise even more:
“Running the London Marathon in Kyran’s memory is an honour, and a chance to give something back to the organisation that gave so much to us when we needed it most. Pilgrims offered compassion, dignity, and unwavering support during the most difficult time of our lives. They didn’t just care for my brother, they cared for our entire family. We were welcomed at any hour, day or night. Staff provided toys for Kyran’s children to play with during visits, and they made space for family meals in the shared dining area. To his children, the hospice became affectionately known as the “house-pital” because it felt like a second home.
“Through fundraising, I’d like to help ensure that everyone has access to dignified end-of-life care in a comfortable setting with excellent support. While many of us shy away from talking about dying, my experience showed me how vital it is that people are able to die with dignity, compassion, and comfort. I want to help make this level of care available to all families who may need it.”
Pilgrims Hospices charity places for London Marathon 2026 are full, but if you’ve been inspired by Hannah and would like to fundraise for Pilgrims, visit our events page or contact our Fundraising team to find out more:
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
9th February 2026
Furley Page solicitors raise £30,000 for Pilgrims Hospices in their 300th year!
Local solicitor firm, Furley Page celebrated a very special milestone in 2025 – their 300th anniversary. Each year, the team choose a charity to support as part of a charity of the year partnership, and for 2025, Pilgrims Hospices was their choice.
The law firm has a rich history dating back to 1725 and is one of the oldest legal practices in the world. To mark the celebrations, colleagues from across the firm committed to various fundraising events, including associate Rosie Eastwood and solicitor Tom Swann who climbed the National Three Peaks in 24 hours, raising £4,160. Other activities included a Dragon Boat Race, the Canterbury 10-mile race, the Whitstable 10k, Furley Fest, a beach clean-up and volunteering in the Pilgrims charity shop, Store 50 in Canterbury.
The Pilgrims Charity Golf Day, which takes place at Canterbury Golf Club in September, was also supported by Furley Page as headline sponsor. Their flags and banners were visible across the fairway, and colleagues entered a team to the event.
Jeremy Licence, Furley Page’s managing partner, said: “This has been an extraordinary year for Furley Page. We are so pleased to have shared our celebrations across the community and I’m very proud of our fundraising efforts for Pilgrims Hospices, an extremely worthy cause,”
The year of celebrations culminated at the Gulbenkian in Canterbury with a premiere of a short film showing the firm’s history, titled “Furley Page: 300 Years and Counting.’
Leila Ilkhan, Corporate and Trusts Partnerships Manager at Pilgrims, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Furley Page for this wonderful donation. It was a proud moment to accept the cheque from Aaron Spencer [Partner and Head of Private Client and Chair of the Furley Page Foundation] and to explain how their support will impact hundreds of patients and their families who receive support from the hospice.”
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
