Pilgrims Hospices Lottery raises vital funds for hospice services each year. It offers a fun and simple way to help Pilgrims support local people who are living with an incurable illness.
Shiralee Riddell, Lottery Manager, shares news and updates from the Lottery team and explains how our Lottery members make a difference.
Spring has definitely sprung, and I’m sure we are all looking forward to the longer, lighter days ahead and enjoying the sights and sounds that spring brings.
It has been another busy year for the Pilgrims Hospices Lottery team and we are on target to raise an incredible £1.2m thanks to your amazing and unwavering generosity and support. Thank you!
We’ve sent out winners cheques to over 5,500 lucky people in our local community this last year, and amongst the many winners we’ve seen a £15k rollover winner!
Our 40th celebratory draw raised nearly £57,000 and we’ve sold 969scratch cards. You’ve surprised 131wedding guests with Pilgrims Hospices Lottery wedding favours and gift vouchers, and 147 lucky loved ones received our Christmas gift vouchers. 1,347 of you have taken out additional entries or joined since April 2022. This is amazing, and all the more impressive in these increasingly difficult times; thank you.
It’s a real privilege for us to know that we are a part of your lives, celebrations and festivities. Your support makes such a difference to the lives of many people in the local community; your friends, neighbours, relatives and loved ones could all benefit from the vital services our wonderful care teams are able to provide because of your kindness.
Did you know that…
A year’s Lottery membership could pay for a one-to-one bereavement counselling session
The purchase of a book of 40th celebratory draw tickets helped pay for an in-patient’s meals for a day
Christmas gift vouchers bought for loved ones helped provide over 200 pamper sessions for our patients
How do we raise such a fabulous amount of money – over £1 million every year?! We think one reason could be that whilst many charity lotteries have increased their entry cost, we’ve retained many of our loyal supporters (some joined in 1996, the year Pilgrims Hospices Lottery began) by choosing to keep our weekly entry cost to just £1. You’re then able to choose how much you would like to give. You can have more than one entry into our weekly draw, which is great news for you as you can increase your chances of winning, and even better news for us as we raise even more funds to help provide our compassionate care. A real win win!
If you aren’t already a member of our weekly Lottery draw, you can join using your preferred payment method; join online or call our friendly team on 01227 379 741. You’ll receive confirmation and your membership numbers in the post. As soon as your payment is received, you’re in the draw and will continue to be all the time funds are in your Lottery account.
There are 106 guaranteed weekly prizes plus a rollover, which has to be won at £20k. You’ve got to be in it to win it! From then on, just sit back and wait for your winning cheques to be mailed out you, no need to claim – but if you would like to check, the winning numbers are available on our website every week.
To buy our scratch cards, simply go into your local Pilgrims charity shop or Pilgrims Hospice and they are available to buy at the till. You could win £1,000!
For gift vouchers and wedding favours, simply call us on 01227 379 741 or click here, where you will also find full T&Cs and additional information.
Don’t forget, you can join or take out additional entries online, too.
Best wishes and thank you again for all of your support.
We couldn’t do it without you!
Shiralee
Pilgrims Hospices Lottery Manager
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.
This year, the much-loved local charity is celebrating its 40th birthday, with a guaranteed prize fund of £4,040 including a first prize of £2,040. All prizes will be sent out to the lucky winners in time for Christmas! They are asking the local community buy a ticket or two to help with continued support for Pilgrims’ end-of-life patients across east Kent.
Shiralee Riddell, Pilgrims Lottery Manager told us: “We recently posted tickets to our Pilgrims Lottery members and supporters, the response so far has been very encouraging.
“We care for people with illnesses that cannot be cured, our services are provided free of charge for our three sites in Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet, within our Therapy Centres and in patients’ own homes; our care is also extended to families and carers .”
£25 will pay for an hours’ specialist nursing care in one of our in-patient units.
£15 goes towards mini toiletries for a patient who needs them.
£12 gives a patient staying in one of our hospices a delicious meal on Christmas day.
If you are not on Pilgrims’ regular mailing list and would like some tickets, please:
Shiralee added: “Please do take part; your generous support is greatly appreciated by our patients and their loved ones, and it makes an incredible difference at the most difficult of times. Thank you.”
Please support your local hospice by calling Shiralee for your tickets. In order to make sure tickets are included, counterfoils must be returned by 8 December, the Christmas Draw takes place on 15 December 2022. Over 16s only, full T&Cs are on our website:
Pilgrims Hospices is dedicated to proving skilled and compassionate care, free of charge, to people living with an incurable illness in east Kent. Pilgrims vision is that people with a life-limiting illness are supported and empowered to live well in mind and body, making the most of the time have. They care for thousands of patients and their families each year, at their three inpatients units in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford, their Therapy Centres or in patients’ homes.
25th July 2022
Lottery member Lynette gives back to Pilgrims Hospices
Lynette Young from Chartfields in the Kingsnorth area of Ashford is a long-time supporter of Pilgrims Hospices; she has played the charity’s Lottery for 10 years and taken part in several fundraising events, raising more than £2,000 for local hospice care.
Having seen close friends benefit from Pilgrims’ vital services, Lynette is inspired to give back and support the local hospice charity however she can.
Lynette during her 55km walk on the Pilgrims Way Challenge
She said: “Pilgrims is such a great place, and you never know who might need it. Two very close friends have had loved ones pass away at the Ashford hospice – in 2017, and just this year in January 2022. I know everyone there is fabulous, warm and caring, and I truly believe you never know what is around the corner. It is a great local charity here in east Kent.”
Lynette joined Pilgrims Hospices Lotteryafter the charity gave a talk at her workplace. She has been a lucky Lottery winner and inspired friends to join, too. She gave some of her winnings to her eldest daughter and her boyfriend to put towards their first home, and is saving the rest to do something special with her family.
Lynette has also raised money for Pilgrims through taking part in events, including night-time walks and the Pilgrims Way Challenge.
She continued: “I’m incredibly lucky to have supportive family and friends. When I share my fundraising on Facebook, so many amazing people donate – I can only put this down to them knowing how much I try to support Pilgrims and also that I love a challenge!
“I’m a true believer in supporting local and as a local charity, Pilgrims is close to my heart. They really are brilliant. I know the money I raise will help to keep hospice services running.”
Shiralee Riddell, Lottery Manager, said: “Thank you for your continued kind support of the work of Pilgrims Hospices, Lynette; you really do make a difference to so many local people.”
Fancy trying your luck with Pilgrims Hospices Lottery?
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.
12th March 2021
Local Lottery celebrates 25 years of supporting end of life care
Pilgrims Hospices Lottery has been delighting players with winning cheques and raising vital funds for its services across east Kent for 25 years. The much loved and respected local charity lottery set up in 1996 celebrates its silver anniversary and sends thanks to everyone who has taken part in their weekly draw during the years.
The support of the community means everything to the hospices and the people who we care for.
Shiralee, Pilgrims Hospices Lottery Manager
With more than 20,000 members playing, millions of pounds have been raised over the past 25 years to support patients, families, loved ones and friends on the hospices wards and within the community.
Shiralee Riddell, Pilgrims Hospices Lottery Manager said: “The support of the community means everything to the hospices and the people who we care for. Your lucky lottery numbers raise over a million pounds each year to support care and services.
“Around three quarters of the funding required to run the three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet and care within the community comes from the generous local community, we could not continue without you. Thank you.”
Pilgrims Hospices Lottery is still only £1 per week per entry, did you know you could win up to £20,000 with our rollover? There are also 106 guaranteed cash prizes won every week.
“We would love you to be a part of our 25th anniversary so please do join today and help us with our celebrations. Thank you again for your kind support for the work of Pilgrims Hospices. Together we really do make a difference.” Shiralee added.
Already a Lottery member? Please send in a “selfie to celebrate” we would love to get as many of our members, staff and volunteers together for a virtual party to mark this fantastic milestone. Perhaps let us know why you joined too!
Pilgrims Hospices cares for more than 2,500 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.
Thousands of people bought and sold Pilgrims Hospices, Winter Wish draw tickets over recent months. The Christmas draw raised a staggering £72,624 for end of life care for this important local charity. This bumper figure is by far the highest amount raised for the annual draw for a number of years.
The draw took place on Wednesday 9th December with the first prize of £2,000 being won by a lucky Herne Bay resident with ticket number 0316181. The second prize is going to a Faversham supporter, ticket number 0412920 and third prize will wing its way to Folkestone with ticket number 0390468. Seven other prizes are going out across the county.
Congratulations and thank you so much for your phenomenal response to our annual Christmas draw you have made it a truly super draw!
Shiralee Riddell, Pilgrims Lottery Manager said: “Firstly I would like to thank everyone who generously purchased tickets for our Winter Wish draw. It has been a very difficult year for charities in general and we are enormously grateful to our supporters who have continued to be there for us, when we have needed them the most.”
No need to claim, our lucky prize winners cheques and gift vouchers will be automatically sent out in plenty of time for Christmas.”
The Pilgrims weekly Lottery draw, scratch cards, gift vouchers and its annual prize draw generate more than £1.1 million for Pilgrims Hospices care each year and are an important part of how the charity continues to raise funds for care across east Kent, on its wards, within the community and in people’s homes.
“Congratulations and thank you so much for your phenomenal response to our annual Christmas draw you have made it a truly super draw!” added Shiralee.
If you would like to become a Pilgrims Hospices Lottery member, with a chance of winning one of more than 100 cash prizes each week, please contact lottery@pilgrimshospices.org or call the friendly lottery team to find out more 01227 379741. Entries are just £1 each per week! By playing the Pilgrims Lottery you are helping us to support people with incurable illness to live well in every moment. It’s an affordable and easy way to support your local hospice charity.
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.
1st May 2020
Peggy shares lucky Pilgrims lottery win with colleagues
Peggy Wright, Pilgrims Hospices Physiotherapy Assistant was the lucky winner of a £2,000 first prize in the weekly Pilgrims Lottery draw early this month. She was keen to share her good fortune with Pilgrims colleagues at the Ashford hospice.
“I was absolutely delighted when the Lottery team called to tell me I had won. I’ve been a Lottery player for some time and it’s amazing to be a big winner!” said Peggy.
“It was a great surprise, and to share some of my joy with the team was one of my first thoughts.” She added.
Peggy provided a selection of treats and goodies for everyone at the Ashford site where she works supporting patients with therapy sessions to improve mobility, quality of life and wellbeing.
Peggy added: “I would encourage anyone to join Pilgrims Lottery, for just £1 per week; you are supporting the most amazing care within our local community. You will truly be helping to make a difference for people who need end of life care.
“I’m working from home currently and miss my colleagues very much. I hope my little treats will help them to keep smiling and do what they do best; looking after our patients and each other. Take care and stay safe.”
You can sign up and play Pilgrims Lottery on the website, for just £1 per week: click here to find out more. It’s a fun way to support vital work, with a chance to win big cash prizes. Every Lottery player is helping to raise enough money for Pilgrims to continue their brilliant care services.
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 support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
