This week Pilgrims Hospices would like to send a huge thank you to the Shepherd Neame pubs of Canterbury and Faversham for donating fresh ingredients to the kitchens as lockdown came in to place on 5th November.
We are delighted to donate our stock of fresh produce to Pilgrims Hospices
Gareth Finney, Shepherd Neame
Gareth Finney, Shepherd Neame’s Development Chef, coordinated the local hostelries to deliver their fresh fruit and vegetables to the Millers Arms in Canterbury where Ian Ashton, Pilgrims Catering Manager was ready to welcome the donation and arrange distribution to all three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet.
The famous Faversham brewers have been supporters of local charities for many years and Gareth said: “We are delighted to donate our stock of fresh produce to Pilgrims Hospices; we would not wish to see the goods wasted and know that Ian and his catering team will be able to make good use of what’s available.”
Ian said: “We are very grateful for the continued support of Shepherd Neame, on average we need to provide nutritious meals for 600 patients each week, along with meals for our care team and the staff who are working on site throughout the pandemic. We cater for a wide variety of dietary requirements for our end-of-life patients’. This generous donation will help resources go that little bit further in these difficult and challenging times.”
The hospices receive an annual NHS contribution of approximately 20% of the funds required to run the hospices, which is reviewed each year. The remaining costs have to be generated through fundraising and donations. If you would like to find out more, and help Pilgrims to provide a continued services for the people of east Kent who need care the most, please visit Contact Us. Pilgrims would love to hear from you.
20th July 2018
Local brewery team complete marathon challenge to support hospice care
Chief executive Jonathan Neame was among the fundraising group that walked and ran 52.4 miles, the equivalent to two marathons, from Whiteshill in Gloucestershire to Broadway Tower in Worcestershire.
The challenge is particularly demanding as Broadway Tower is the Cotswold’s highest castle, and the route involved more than 2,500m of ascent.
Other members of Team Extreme, which has been running for nine years and sees Shepherd Neame staff tackle tough endurance challenges for charity, included Head of Property Services Martin Godden, Export Controller Olly Scott, Business Development Manager Dougie Dick, National Account Manager Lee Whitehead, Commercial Estate Manager John Barnes and Development Surveyor Nick Farrant.
More than 500 competitors took part, and Olly and John finished the route in less than 11 hours 30 minutes, placing them both in the top 70. Jonathan, Martin, and Lee all finished in under 17 hours, while Dougie finished in just over 19 hours.
They raised almost £4,000, and Martin and Olly presented a cheque for £3,381 to Pilgrims Hospices on Wednesday 4 July. The remainder of the money went to Prostate Cancer UK.
During the past nine years Team Extreme has raised over £50,000 for charity, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us.
Olly Scott, Shepherd Neame Export Controller
Martin said: “It’s the second year that we have completed the Race to the Tower, and although it is physically tough, it is a fantastic experience. It’s a great team-building activity, from the training beforehand to the actual event, and we have been delighted by the amount of money we raised for two fantastic causes.”
Olly added: “During the past nine years Team Extreme has raised over £50,000 for charity, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us.
“The challenge was brutally hot and the course was hilly, it took all of our physical and mental strength to complete.
“We are now starting to plan a very special challenge to mark our 10th anniversary next year, so watch this space!”
Pilgrims Hospices Community Fundraising Manager Leila Ilkhan said: “Pilgrims would like to thank Shepherd Neame’s Team Extreme for their generous donation. The money raised will help us to provide care for patients and their families who need our help the most. Each year we care for around 2,500 people across east Kent, and this fundraising will make a huge difference to the care of so many.”
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 Wellbeing and Social Programme for more information.
