Kate’s fantastic festive fundraising in memory of dad Dennis
Kate Johnson from Herne Bay supports Pilgrims Hospices to give back to the charity that cared for her dad, Dennis Beer, at the end of his life.
On Sunday 28 November 2021, Kate joined hundreds of fellow festive fundraisers at Santas on the Bay! to remember her much-loved dad and help to ensure that other families can benefit from Pilgrims’ vital and compassionate care.
Dennis and Gill Beer with Kate’s daughter, Millie, on the toy box that Dennis made for her
‘He was valued as a person and that image will stay with me a lifetime.’
Dennis was an antique furniture restorer from Teynham; he died peacefully at home, aged 71, on 20 January 2017.
Kate said: “Dad fought a long and courageous battle against bowel cancer, exhausting all surgeries available to him and enduring multiple rounds of gruelling chemotherapy. At this point, the doctors explained that his liver wasn’t able to cope with any more treatment and that it was time to stop. It’s difficult to know how to just stop trying to get better; how do you physically and emotionally support somebody to die? It’s definitely not something I felt confident doing – I was used to my dad looking after me, not the other way around.
“Dad was a real home bod. When he was told that he was dying, he chose to receive support from Pilgrims’ Hospice at Home team. I moved back home in the final ten days leading up to his death, so that I could support my mum as she cared for Dad, but mostly so that I didn’t miss any time with him.
Dennis and Kate
“I’m so grateful that Dad was able to stay in the home that he loved, surrounded by the people he loved, at the hardest time our family has ever faced. My mum ran an intensive care unit before she retired and has vast and comprehensive medical knowledge, but says there is a huge difference between caring for patients when you’re behind a uniform and supporting the man you love as he dies. Watching Dad deteriorate knocked Mum’s confidence in her ability to care for him; the hospice staff helped to build her back up again, holding her hand and ‘having her back’ so that she felt strong enough to care for Dad.
“As a daughter, it’s very strange watching your dad die. We’d always been close; he was my hero. He was big, strong, loved us fiercely and protected us. Suddenly, he was tired, in pain, desperately sad at the thought of leaving us and needed us to look after him. It’s very hard to do that when the pain of what’s ahead feels like it’s crushing you.
“The Hospice at Home team were incredible. They seemed to know exactly when we needed them, and would always arrive with a big smile, often a warm hug and always lots of reassuring words. They treated Dad with respect and dignity – speaking to him about what he wanted, making sure that he was in the driving seat and that he had choices rather than just doing things to him. They’d laugh and joke, and in those final days they became part of our family. Dad would always thank them profusely for their time and generosity and appreciated every minute of them helping to care for him.
Dennis
“On the evening of 20th January 2017, the nurses arrived to see how we were all getting on. By this time, Dad was on a syringe driver and unable to communicate with us. The nurses popped the kettle on and we talked about how Dad was doing before heading into the ‘sunroom’ to sit with him. As I walked into the room, I knew his breathing was different and that something was happening. The nurses told Mum and I that Dad was dying and helped us move the bed away from the wall so that we could be either side of him, holding his hand, stroking his face and telling him we loved him as he slipped away. They stayed in the room with us until Dad had gone and comforted us whilst the magnitude of what had happened sunk in.
“Shortly after, the nurses asked us if we’d like them to dress Dad in some of his favourite clothes. We left the room for a short while and when we came back, they had dressed him in a beautiful checked shirt, sprayed his deodorant on his clothes, laid him down so he looked peaceful and snipped a sprig of flowers from a nearby plant, which they laid on his pillow, next to his head. I’ve never been so touched and overwhelmed in my life – he looked and smelt like my dad should. Even after his death, the hospice team treated him with the utmost respect and care; he was valued as a person and that image will stay with me a lifetime.”
Pilgrims helps to make life more ‘normal’
Kate’s grandmother, Elisabeth Beer, was also cared for in the Canterbury hospice in 2003. She remembers visiting her at Christmas that year:
“When we turned up, she wasn’t in her room but was instead in the chapel singing Christmas carols. We could hear her singing from outside the door. She would have been so grateful to have been able to visit church at Christmas and share a service with others; Pilgrims helped to make life just that little bit more normal for her.”
Kate’s festive fundraising journey
Kate with her mum, Gill, and her children, Millie and Harry
Kate always planned to take part in a Pilgrims’ fundraising event but knew it would mean getting fit. She said: “I’m currently in the process of joining Kent Police; as part of the interview process, I have to meet certain fitness criteria so I’ve started running.
“When I saw Santas on the Bay! pop up in my email, I sent a copy to my boyfriend joking that I’d do it because it was an excellent opportunity to raise money for Pilgrims – plus it would give me motivation to keep my fitness levels up. Next thing I know, I get an email thanking me for my entry and here I am!”
Kate is supported in her fundraising by her mum, Gill, her children, Millie (7) and Harry (3), her boyfriend, Anthony, who runs with her every week, and her friends. Her dad remains a constant source of motivation, too:
“I wouldn’t have wanted to let him down by backing out of this! My mum says how proud he’d be of me.”
On the day itself, Kate and Anthony joined hundreds of fellow Santas who braved arctic conditions along Herne Bay seafront.
Kate and Anthony at Santas on the Bay! 2021
Kate added: “It was such a lovely event and so touching to see so many people braving the freezing cold to raise money for such a worthy cause. I’ll definitely be signing up again!”
Dennis with Kate’s daughter, Millie
She continued: “The pain of losing somebody you love is unbearable. When that person needs you to help them die, how do you do that? Pilgrims helped us to help my dad pass comfortably, peacefully and with respect. It’s so important to me that other families are offered the services and support that were so vital to us during that time.
“I want to raise awareness of such an amazing cause, encourage others to sign up for similar events, have fun and learn about other people’s stories and the people who mean so much to them. Most importantly, I want to raise money so that others can experience the care my dad received.
“Finally, it’s just a lovely way to remind everyone that Dennis Beer was very much here. A big, talented man with rough hands from working hard. A principled, funny, problem solver who had a story for every occasion. He was the best dad I could have ever had, and I will always be so proud to be his daughter.
“He was a real person, he was loved so, so dearly and he will never be forgotten by us. It’s so nice to be able to speak about him and say his name.”
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.
18th November 2021
Verlander family’s fantastic fundraising for Pilgrims Hospices
Luke Verlander from Broadstairs experienced Pilgrims Hospices’ care first-hand when his mum, Sherrie, was supported by the charity in 2013.
To give back and say thank you, Luke and his family have since raised more than £8,000 for local hospice services in east Kent, and their fantastic fundraising continues.
On Sunday 12 December 2021, Luke and his sons, Kieran (10) and Nate (7), will take part inSantas on the Seashore! in Margate, part of Pilgrims’Festive Tri-Series of family-friendly 5k events to raise vital funds for the charity.
Luke’s mum, Sherrie
Sherrie was diagnosed with late stage bowel, liver and lung cancer in 2013, after attending a scan for suspected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). She died just 50 days later on 18 March, aged 55.
Sherrie was referred to Pilgrims Hospice Thanet a few weeks after her diagnosis.
Luke said: “Mum fought bravely. The Pilgrims staff and volunteers were absolutely fantastic; they were really good for, and with, her and my dad Jim, who rarely moved from her bedside. They were friendly, helpful and, most importantly, passionate about their roles.
“Without a doubt, Pilgrims offers the very best service that you hope to never need. They were so good for our family.”
Over the years, Luke has taken on several fundraising events for Pilgrims. He ran the London Marathon in 2016 and 2017, braved a 120mph Wing Walk and participated in the charity’s It’s a Knockout! event with family, friends and colleagues.
Luke has also organised his own events, including football tournaments, lottery games, raffles and more. He even invented a Pilgrims Hospices Shield trophy for the football matches.
He continued: “My son, Kieran, enjoys running with me. In 2019, when he was eight, we did Santas on the Run! and raised £260! He wanted to do it again, and this year he’ll be joined by his youngest brother, Nate, who is just seven years old.
“We’re supported in our fundraising by friends, family, colleagues, my employer with matched funding, complete strangers (friends of friends via Facebook posts) and local businesses that donated prizes for the raffles or directly sponsored events.
“As a family, we’ve raised around £8,500 for Pilgrims to date. I can only thank all who have supported us over the years; it truly is a very deserving cause.”
Luke’s Wing Walk for Pilgrims
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager, added: “I have had the pleasure of knowing Luke and his family for many years now and have seen his family grow and grow up along the way. Luke has taken on many challenges to help support vital end of life care for the next person that needs us.
Kieran and Nate on a training run
“Luke and his family are always looking for that next challenge and other ways they can continue to support our charity, and most importantly raise awareness. We really could not continue to run our services if we did not have the ongoing support from our overwhelming local community. Thank you.”
Luke and his family choose to support Pilgrims so that the charity can continue providing its vital care to local families who will need it in the future.
He added: “Pilgrims needs funding through donations to continue offering this vital care. My family support them so that they can continue providing this to local families who will need it in the future.”
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.
11th December 2019
School choir Deck the Halls for Pilgrims Hospices
Sir Roger Manwood’s School chose Pilgrims Hospice Thanet as their charity of the year last year and asked if they could present their charity donation of £6,020 to the Pilgrims team earlier this year.
Holly Fletcher, a Year 8 pupil also presented a surprise gift of an impressive colourful collection tin, which flashes when a donation is made.
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager said: “Holly gave me her gift and went to walk away, I noticed it had an electric plug so immediately found a power point. Holly explained how the tin would flash when a donation is made.
“It’s quite incredible that a child so young had made this for our charity through a school project, what an amazing gift and one that benefits others too.
We are very grateful for the wonderful support and awareness the school has given Pilgrims Hospices.
Karen Kenward, Pilgrims Hospices
“There was more to add; after speaking with music teacher, David Smith, at the end of year, I mentioned that we were holding a Santa run in Margate on Sunday 15 December and wondered if they would be interested in recording a Christmas carol for the charity.
“After the school summer holidays were over, the school got a group together and sent me a draft of “Deck the Halls”; when I played their rendition I was in bits as was everyone, so professional, with tenors and sopranos just beautiful. We now have the finished copy of the CD that we are asking for a minimum donation of £3 per copy. The CD cover features Holly Fletcher on the back with her collection tin. We are delighted that local radio stations will be playing this for us, and it will be played at the Santas run on Sunday 15 December. This makes the perfect Christmas present.”
Karen went on to say: “How very grateful we all are for the wonderful support and awareness the school has given us overall. From all our staff, volunteers and patients, we wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”
Copies of the CD are available at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet reception for a suggested donation of £3.
Click below to listen to Deck the Halls by Sir Roger Manwood’s School choir.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,400 people in east Kent 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.
22nd November 2019
Local athlete Yiannis Christodoulou pledges support for hospice care
Yiannis Christodoulou is European and National Aquathlon Champion 2019 and team captain representing Great Britain. Living in Canterbury and working in Ashford, Yiannis has always been aware of the important work of Pilgrims Hospices in his local community.
As a keen athlete, Yiannis enjoys taking part in events in his local area. In August 2019 he went to watch friends at the Canterbury Half Marathon, an annual event that has raised over £57,000 for the much-loved local hospices. Whilst there, Yiannis visited the Pilgrims information stand and picked up a 2019 event brochure. After looking through the variety of events they host, he felt inspired and contacted the charity expressing a desire to get involved supporting in any way that he could.
Yiannis was invited to meet with Cate Russell, Pilgrims Hospices Chief Executive, to discuss the role he could play for the charity.
He will soon be working with Pilgrims as a volunteer ambassador; his role will be to help Pilgrims open up conversations and support the community to think and plan for the future, bringing about societal change.
Since taking up running in 2012, Yiannis has never looked back; he’s always looking for new and exciting ways to get involved with local running events. When looking through the Pilgrims event brochure he saw Santas on the Run! Tri-Series, the perfect combination of festive celebrations, fun and a challenge; he had to get involved.
Pilgrims has been holding Santas on the Run! in Herne Bay for the past two years. The family-friendly festive fun run of 3k and 5k has been incredibly popular with the community with over £65,000 raised for local hospice care. This year, Pilgrims is excited to announce that Santas on the Run! will also be coming to Folkestone and Margate. The three festive fun runs will be taking place on consecutive weekends in December so that our Santas can challenge themselves to all three and join our tri-series in the countdown to Christmas. Yiannis is really looking forward to getting involved with the Santas on the Run! Tri-Series and will be taking part in Santas on the Bay! in Herne Bay on Sunday 1 December 2019.
Yiannis said: “This is a nice friendly run for fun, for a great cause. You never know where one run can take you.”
If you want to join Yiannis at Santas on the Run! and take part in the jolliest jog of the year, sign up now atwww.pilgrimshospices.org/santa.
Each year Pilgrims supports hundreds of local people coping with a life limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from end of life care given on its wards, to its wellbeing programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
21st November 2019
Jingle Belles all the way for Pilgrims Hospices Christmas fundraising
Long-time friends Tash, Trudi, Shirilee, Kathy, Nikki, Jac and Sue will be taking part in the Santas on the Run! fun fundraiser in Herne Bay on Sunday 1 December this year. They are raising funds in memory of their dear friend Jacqi Woolf who was a strong supporter of the hospices and the Santas on the Run! event. Jacqi lost her fight against cancer in September 2019; the girls have named their running team ‘Jacqi’s Jingle Belles’.
The girls’ friendship grew when they met at Nikki’s yoga classes in Herons Leisure Centre in Herne Bay. The group quickly become good friends and would attend yoga workshops and retreats spending much time having fun and enjoying plenty of laughter.
Our close friend Jacqi was a dedicated supporter of Pilgrims Hospices.
Kathy Walsh
Kathy Walsh from Jacqi’s Jingle Belles told us: “We are taking part in Santas on the Run! on the Herne Bay seafront to raise much needed funds for Pilgrims Hospices this Christmas.
“Our close friend Jacqi was a dedicated supporter of Pilgrims Hospices taking part in numerous cycling, running and swimming challenges, including a Channel relay swim to raise funds for the charity.
“Jacqi took part in Santas on the Run! last year and pushed her dad in his wonderful Santa sleigh, much to the delight of those taking part and spectators.
“We were truly fortunate to call her our friend and her zest for life showed everyone how life should be lived; with 100% participation and enthusiasm to embrace new challenges.
“Always with a smile and preferably with cake (or chocolate)!”
Lydia Todd, Pilgrims Challenge Events Fundraiser said: “The girls have a truly heart-warming story and a desire to continue supporting our charity after Jacqi received care here at Pilgrims.
“We hope by sharing their story we can encourage even more supporters to register for this brilliant family fundraiser: www.pilgrimshospices.org/santas.
Being part of the fun will be making a difference to the care offered by our dedicated team of doctors and nurses in the hospices and within the community and people homes.”
If you would like to help the Belles raise cash for Pilgrims Hospices who made Jacqi’s last two weeks comfortable please donate to their JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/team/jacqisjinglebelles.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options visit www.pilgrimshospices.org/wellbeing to read about Pilgrims Wellbeing Programme at the Pilgrims Therapy Centres.
19th November 2019
Santas on the Run! will raise £1000’s for specialist Pilgrims care
Paul Johnson from Ashford will be taking a festive dash along the Folkestone seafront on Sunday 8 December, when he joins hundreds of others in Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Run! Christmas 5K or 3K fun run. The Harbour Arm will be a sea of festive fun-loving Santas, young and old, all raising valuable funds for local hospice care.
Paul in his running kit
Environmental Consultant, Paul, told us: “My dad Les was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. He benefits greatly from the amazing services provided by Pilgrims Hospices, especially their Wellbeing Centrein Ashford where he has physiotherapy and receives emotional support.
“I joined a local running club, Beginners2Runners in April this year following a difficult time; the club is brilliant and helped make a positive impact on me. The running has really made a big difference to my quality of life.
“I decided to channel my energies into raising money for Pilgrims as a way of making a difference for those who need palliative care, and their families.”
If you would like to support Paul please visit his JustGivingpage and donate.
“Thank you to everyone who is supporting me, you are all helping to make a difference to end-of-life care in our area.” Paul added.
Lydia Todd, Pilgrims Challenge Events Officer said: “Thank you Paul for sharing your story, it’s wonderful that you are supporting us and helping to spread the word about our festive fun run.
“Good luck on the day, I’m sure you will enjoy every minute of the fabulous festive spectacle.”
Thank you to everyone who is supporting me, you are all helping to make a difference.
Your entry fee covers a Santa suit, a fabulous medal and, the feel-good factor that you are truly helping to make a difference.
Just by raising a little sponsorship you could help to pay for a patient to enjoy a mince pie and custard on the run up to Christmas, a festive dinner or physiotherapy sessions to help patients stay active and enjoy games with their family on Christmas Day.
See you there Santas!
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity providing palliative care free of charge to people in east Kent, and therefore relies on charitable donations.
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or visit www.pilgrimshospices.org/wellbeing for information on the Wellbeing Programme.
