Anne’s once in a lifetime wing walk for Pilgrims Hospices
Pilgrims supporter Anne Willmott took to the skies for a truly unforgettable fundraising challenge – a wing walk soaring 500ft above the Kent countryside – in memory of her much-loved mum, Sandra, and to support hospice care in east Kent.
Anne with her daughter, Jade, and granddaughters
Anne recently met with the Pilgrims team at the Ashford hospice, joined by her daughter Jade and granddaughters Kaydee-Jade (9) and Gracie (almost 6). She’s no stranger to Pilgrims; her family shares a longstanding and very personal connection with the charity. Anne’s mum, Sandra, was a much-loved volunteer on the Ashford reception for many years, offering a friendly face and comforting welcome to all who came through the hospice doors.
Sandra was cared for by the Ashford hospice team and died in February 2024 – poignantly, on World Cancer Day. Anne, her father James, and the family spent precious time with Sandra while she was being cared for at the hospice, supported throughout by Pilgrims’ expert and compassionate team.
“The care Mum received was so special,” Anne said. “We were able to be with her at the hospice and felt supported every step of the way. The team were comforting and amazing. They helped us stay calm through such difficult times. They even helped me to be very positive and strong in the moment, which is something I’ll always be grateful for.”
Anne’s dad James continues to be a dedicated supporter, sharing his photography talents at Pilgrims events and giving talks about his travels, with all donations going to support local hospice care. Anne and her daughter Jade proudly carry on that photography tradition, volunteering their time and skills throughout the year.
Sandra and James
Speaking about her recent wing walk at Headcorn Aerodrome, Anne said:
“I’m so proud to have taken on this amazing challenge. Once I climbed onto the wing and was strapped in, I expected nerves – but instead, I felt an incredible sense of calm. I smiled the whole way through! As we landed, I just dissolved into tears. It was joy, pride, and emotion all at once. I really felt Mum was watching over me. Now I just want to do it all over again!”
Anne doing her wing walk
The wing walk also marked a personal milestone for Anne, celebrating her recovery from illness four years ago.
“This was a way to celebrate feeling well again, to remember Mum, and to give something back to Pilgrims for the incredible care she received. It was the most exciting way I could think of to say thank you.”
Anne launched a JustGiving pageto support her challenge and was overwhelmed by the kindness of family, friends, and even anonymous donors. She has raised more than £1,200 so far.
Anne and Sandra
“People were so generous – it really touched me. I think it speaks volumes about how much Pilgrims Hospices means to people in our community. I couldn’t thank everyone enough. It was lovely to achieve something so personal while raising funds for something so close to all our hearts.”
Sophie, from Pilgrims’ Fundraising team, congratulated Anne on behalf of the charity:
“It’s official – you’re a wing walker! We’re so proud of you, Anne.
“Your bravery, energy and compassion are inspiring. The funds you’ve raised will help us continue to provide vital care to patients and families across east Kent.”
Anne and her family continue to support Pilgrims in many ways — attending remembrance events like Sunflower Memories and honouring Sandra’s life with a leaf on the hospice’s Memory Tree.
“We’re really proud to be part of the Pilgrims family,” Anne added. “Mum loved her time volunteering, and we all feel close to her when we’re supporting the hospice. I think she’d be thrilled to see us all carrying that on.”
So, what’s next for Anne?
“How do you top a wing walk? Maybe some loop-the-loops next time!” she laughed. “Whatever comes next, I’ll keep doing what makes me happy – and supporting Pilgrims wherever I can.”
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to more than 3,000 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.
11th June 2025
Fiona’s Kilimanjaro climb in aid of Pilgrims Hospices
At 62 years old, Fiona Dobson from Canterbury is no stranger to a challenge – and now she’s preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise vital funds for Pilgrims Hospices, where she volunteers as a Ward Support Volunteer.
The trek will take place over eight days from 6–12 June 2025, and Fiona has already raised more than £4,000 to support local hospice care.
Fiona Dobson, Ward Support Volunteer at Pilgrims Hospices
“I’m paying for my own trip because I didn’t want any of the fundraising to go towards costs – I want every penny raised to support the care Pilgrims offers,” Fiona explained.
Fiona’s relationship with Pilgrims spans nearly four decades. She began her nursing career at the hospice in 1986, working alongside well-known figures in the team such as Annie Hogben. Over the years, she went on to become a district nurse, a practice nurse, and continues to do freelance vaccination work.
“I started my career here, and I’d like to finish it here too,” she said. “Volunteering on the ward once a week means a lot to me – it’s special. I love it.”
Fiona has seen first-hand the importance of hospice care, having lost her dad at Pilgrims 20 years ago, a close friend in 2020, and her husband’s brother in December last year.
“The care is so much more than the beds on the ward – it’s the ongoing support for families, friends, and the counselling services too. That support makes all the difference.”
An experienced hillwalker and climber, Fiona has tackled a host of impressive challenges, including the Yorkshire Three Peaks, parts of the Alps and Pyrenees, and 50 Scottish “Fionas” – lesser-known peaks once referred to as Grahams – as well as a number of Munros and Corbetts.
“There are often no paths on the Fionas – it’s really rough terrain, but that’s what I love. This Kilimanjaro challenge will take it to a whole new level.”
Her preparation for Kilimanjaro is well underway. Fiona trains regularly by running the hilly paths of the Kent Downs, walking, doing yoga, going to the gym, and taking part in cycling events – including Pilgrims’ Cycle Challenge.
“I did the 50-mile route just a few weeks ago,” she said. “It was really windy this year with a big headwind – one of the hardest yet, and I’ve done it a few times! I only found out recently that a photo of me from the 2017 event is on the side of one of the Pilgrims vans!”
Fiona Dobson 2
Fiona Dobson 3
Fiona and friends fundraising for Pilgrims Hospices
When she’s not training, Fiona enjoys time on the White Cliffs of Dover with her two dogs. Now retired from full-time nursing and with two grown-up children, she’s embracing the freedom to pursue challenges that make a difference.
Fiona will travel with a friend as part of a group of about 20 trekkers, and she plans to document the adventure with plenty of photos.
“I’m expecting to make some new friends – it’ll be a life-changing experience,” she said. “But most importantly, it’s all for Pilgrims. It’s a brilliant place and I’m proud to support it however I can.”
You can support Fiona’s Kilimanjaro Challenge by visiting her JustGiving page.
Do you have some time to volunteer for Pilgrims Hospices?
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
4th June 2025
Barbara’s volunteering journey with Pilgrims Hospices
Meet Barbara, who began volunteering with Pilgrims Hospices four years ago after searching for something new to fill her time with.
Barbara is a Collection Pot Coordinator, and makes sure that all our collection pots in Whitstable are replaced every few months, as well as finding new venues to host one, including pubs, cafes, hairdressers and newsagents.
Maxine and Barbara
She also enjoys supporting our fundraising events, and you will often see her manning our tombola stalls in the community or marshalling at our challenge events.
Volunteering is a way for Barbara to give back to a cause close to her heart. After experiencing first-hand the care her husband, Edd, received, she knew that when the time was right, she wanted to give a little something back.
“I was so overwhelmed by the care, compassion and respect Edd received, as well as myself and my family during what was a very difficult time.”
Barbara’s family also volunteer their time when they can, including her grandson, Freddie, who walked the Whitstable Carnival to raise awareness of Pilgrims, and her daughter, Maxine, who spent some time raising funds on one of our summer tombolas.
Barbara said: “I would recommend volunteering as it has given me a purpose and I feel privileged to be a volunteer, knowing I am making a difference. The sense of fulfilment is indescribable.”
Canterbury Community Fundraiser, Rachael Edmed says:
“We are always looking for enthusiastic, passionate people like Barbara who are able to donate some of their spare time to help us continue raising vital funds and making a difference. Whether you’re interested in supporting our fundraising events or manning a bucket collection, we welcome informal chats to see what volunteering for Pilgrims could offer you.”
Volunteers’ Week celebrates the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK. The celebration starts on the first Monday in June every year. It’s a chance to recognise, celebrate and thank the UK’s incredible volunteers for all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector, and society as a whole.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
12th August 2022
Benches stolen from much loved hospice gardens
Thoughtless thieves stole two benches from local charity, Pilgrims Hospices in Margate on Tuesday evening. Shortly after nine pm, the newly refurbished wooden benches were captured on CCTV being carried by a man and a woman to a van parked on the main road. The couple were caught on camera and the theft has been reported to the police.
The wooden benches were recently refurbished by hospice volunteers, in an effort to improve the seating for patients and their families whilst using the gardens.
We can’t thank the people of Thanet enough for their generosity and very kind words of support.
Jon Sillett Deputy CEO
Jon May, Pilgrims Hospices Thanet Services Manager said: “We are all at a loss as to why people would want to steel from our charity. Just last week, a volunteer working party from Saga, repaired and gave the benches a fresh new look in blue paint, they looked wonderful. Saga employees are regular supporters of the hospices, and offer their time and expertise for which we are very grateful.
“We are disappointed to say the least, that some people saw fit to steel our garden furniture, and feel even more disappointment for the volunteers who have taken so much time and effort to refurbish the benches and make them look so beautiful.
“We rely on volunteer support from organisations such as Saga, and hope this unpleasant incident will not detract from the amazing work, they do for us now and in the future. We really couldn’t do some of the vital work in and around our hospice and grounds without the generous support of our volunteers.”
The charity has been inundated with kind offers from members of the community and local businesses, to replace the benches. Jon Sillett, Deputy CEO, added: “We can’t thank the people of Thanet enough for their generosity and very kind words of support. We have accepted a generous offer to replace the benches. Sadly, it’s unpleasant experiences such as this, that remind us how we are part of, and valued by the local community.
We are now reviewing how we can improve the security on our site in Margate, and would love to enhance the security within the hospice settings to deter any future potential incidents. If you would like to make a contribution to items such as security gates, updating fences, lighting and other items, this would be very much appreciated. This would enable our gardens to be safe places for our patients and their loved ones to enjoy, and somewhere to create special moments and memories.
If anyone would like to help with a donation, to help maintain the hospice for those who need Pilgrims care and support, you can donate here: select Thanet garden and bench replacement donation from the drop down menu. You can call Pilgrims Supporter Relations Team on 01227 782 062, every penny donated will be making a different to end-on-life care in our community.
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.
16th September 2021
Hospice at Home: “The hidden gem of hospice care”
Pilgrims Hospices offer a wide range of support to people across east Kent who are living with life-limiting conditions – on its wards and in its Therapy Centres in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet, and also out in the local community within peoples’ own homes.
One such service is Hospice at Home; working with those considered to be within the last 72 hours of life, this vital team of Senior Healthcare Assistants (SHCAs) support families through the dying process at an incredibly difficult and important moment. Between them, they travel across the whole of east Kent to offer their skills and support. They work in shifts from 07:30-21:00, always in pairs.
Mandy Hilden, Hospice at Home Team Leader
The Hospice at Home service began in 2009 and is a small team of seven: Mandy Hilden (Team Leader), Becky Baldwin, Sharon Beal, Daniel Brown, Tracy Fullarton, Sharron Hill and Rachel Kendall-Jones.
Referrals to the service are made via GPs, Pilgrims’ multidisciplinary team, a hospital palliative care team or district nurse, and the Hospice at Home team aim to respond within four hours.
If a patient wants to be discharged from hospice or hospital care to die at home, the team help to make this possible; 24-hour care at home is not available, but the team can visit a couple of times a day to provide support and personal care.
Duties are numerous and varied, and no two days are the same.
The team said:
“We help with personal care and offer emotional support to families and carers. We’re not time-restricted like some care providers are, so it’s nice to be able to give people our full, undivided attention for as long as they need it.
“We have a good relationship with district nursing teams, who we contact if a patient needs medicines administering. We also report any changes in a patients’ condition to them and the palliative specialist nurses, so that their care is joined up and tailored to them.
“Although we can’t offer overnight sits, we can refer to organisations that do so families are able to rest and catch up on some sleep.
“Hospice at Home is the hidden gem of Pilgrims’ care. There’s often an assumption that we only offer inpatient units on the ward, but there’s so much more. It’s such a rewarding role, and it’s a real privilege to be allowed into peoples’ homes at a very difficult time. We’re not there to take over, just to support; you can see the pressure taken off family members when we arrive. It’s lovely to go home knowing you’ve done a good job.
“It can be an emotionally and physically challenging role, but we also have an overwhelming feeling of pride and reward in what we do. It’s a real privilege to be able to support patients and families at an extremely personal time.”
It’s such a rewarding role, and it’s a real privilege to be allowed into peoples’ homes at a very difficult time. We’re not there to take over, just to support; you can see the pressure taken off family members when we arrive. It’s lovely to go home knowing you’ve done a good job.
Hospice at Home team
Hospice at Home has continued to be a much-needed and appreciated service during COVID-19. Early on in the pandemic, no visitors were allowed in the hospice buildings; as people were advised to stay home, more were able to care for loved ones there. This meant that many patients chose to be at home with loved ones at the end of their lives. The team was also deployed to the hospice wards and wider community, supporting where needed, especially at the height of the second wave over Christmas 2020.
The team holistically accompanies patients in their journeys – from identifying when they’re nearing the end of life, providing last offices for loved ones, and caring for the family afterwards.
They continued:
“Most SHCA skills are transferable to other roles, particularly when working on the hospice wards, which we have often covered as a team. During the pandemic, we’ve regularly supported our colleagues at this very challenging time.
“Our team became trainers for local nursing and residential homes, showing staff how to ‘don and doff’ PPE correctly. We also assisted a nursing home that was in crisis when their staff and residents all contracted COVID.”
The team’s compassion and commitment is reflected in feedback from families they have supported:
“The carers who came twice a day were amazing, they helped wash my dad, used his favourite body spray, combed his hair. He looked so much more himself and comfortable afterwards, with dignity.”
“The support I received caring for my sister was unbelievable, the team were amazing with everything. I felt like I had gained two more special sisters during this difficult time.”
“They looked after my father daily, looking after his personal needs. They were and are amazing. As soon as they started with us, their confidence and manner calmed us all down. A ray of light in a very bleak time.”
Kate White, Head of Nursing at Pilgrims, said: “Hospice at Home offer an invaluable service to those wishing to die at home by attending their home to give expert personal care in the last few days of life. They are able to take the time to support the patient and their loved ones at a most difficult time, with compassion and dedication. I receive numerous compliments from family members who’ve been so grateful and relieved for their input, as it means the patient’s wish to die at home is fulfilled. The team is vital to our overall hospice service, giving people choice and an alternative to inpatient care.”
Main image, L-R: Rachel Kendall-Jones, Sharon Beal, Daniel Brown, Sharron Hill, Tracy Fullarton, Becky Baldwin
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 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.
14th September 2021
Valued volunteer Dea will be sadly missed at Pilgrims Hospices
Long-time Pilgrims volunteer, Dea Martindale from Sturry, passed away under the care of the hospice she supported and loved on 23 August 2021.
Dea who was 79, had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in October 2020 and had become more unwell suddenly in early August 2021.
She spent a short while in the Canterbury hospice before returning home under Pilgrims’ Hospice at Home care team.
Corrina Collins, Dea’s daughter said: “Mum was extremely proud to be a volunteer at the hospice, it was an important part of her life and very much her priority in her retirement years. She was a member of the reception team and had been known to sit with patients who had no family or visitors to give them comfort and support.
“My sister Nichola and I can’t thank the Hospice at Home team enough, they were absolutely amazing; just like angels. They were not only wonderful with Mum in her final few days, but a tower of strength for us too. Nothing was too much trouble, and they were indeed a great comfort to us all.”
Dea with social worker Lynne Digby during a marketing photo shoot for Pilgrims
Over her 24 years of dedicated volunteering for the local end-of-life charity, she was often seen on a Sunday afternoon and always during the festive season, supporting wherever she could. After her husband Ken was cared for on the Canterbury hospice ward, she became a regular member of the hospice reception team. She also volunteered within the Therapy Centre, helping service users with crafting activities, lunches and plenty of cups of tea. Her generous and smiling nature would often get her involved with the Pilgrims marketing team, being part of photo shoots to promote hospice services. She was also a keen fundraiser, supporting the fundraising team at events including Summer and Christmas fairs. Car boot sales were also something she enjoyed over a number of years, she collected and stored goods to sell, raising tens of thousands of pounds to help keep Pilgrims’ valuable services running.
Corrina added: “Mum was an independent and strong lady, it was crushing to see her become poorly so quickly. However, it’s been lovely to hear the nurses speak so fondly of her and to know she was truly valued as a volunteer.
Mum was extremely proud to be a volunteer at the hospice, it was an important part of her life and very much her priority in her retirement years.
Corrina, Dea’s daughter
Adrian Matthews, Pilgrims Hospice Services Manager said: “I took over as Site Manager at Canterbury three and a half years ago and as such took over the volunteers on reception as their manager.
“I have to say, Dea will forever stick in my memory as one of my trusted members of the team but I would hope as a friend as well.
“An absolute gem of a person and someone I am very proud to have come to know.”
Dea received the Lord Mayor of Canterbury community service award in 2013 for her work at the hospices.
A Pilgrims team member said: “It is with great sadness that we say good-bye to Dea, she will be missed by all of us, and will remain a wonderful testament to the amazing work that our volunteer workforce do at the hospices.”
Dea with her daughters, Corrina and Nichola
Dea had discussed with her daughters a bucket list of things that she wanted to achieve over the past year, which included some strong wishes for her funeral arrangements and to ensure her very last car boot sale took place.
“Me and Mum’s very close friend Jenny, were able to carry out her boot sales wishes, selling about 90% of the items gathered with all money being donated to Pilgrims Hospices, the remaining items have been given to the Pilgrims Hospices shops. I know Mum was really pleased and satisfied that she was able to make this final commitment to her much loved hospices” added Corrina.
Although Dea was unable to fulfil her bucket list due to COVID restrictions and her rapidly failing health, the daughters’ plan to tick one of their mum’s wishes from the list by taking a trip to the South Bank and sipping cocktails in her memory.
Dea’s funeral will take place on Monday 27 September at Barham Crematorium at 3:20pm.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 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.
