4th July 2023

    Sunflower Memories appeal to bloom again in hospice gardens

    Pilgrims Hospices launch Sunflower Memories Appeal 2023, supporters are welcome to attend the remembrance events on 22 July, to celebrate the lives of loved ones and relive memories, with music and refreshments in the hospice gardens at Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet.

    The leading provider of end-of-life care services in east Kent, is delighted to announce the appeal has now reached its 10th year of raising funds and awareness; it serves as a poignant tribute to cherished memories, while celebrating the spirit of compassion and care.

    Pilgrims Hospices Nurse, Simone with Sunflower art

     

    Each year the hospices offer individuals and communities an opportunity to visit the hospice gardens; to come together, and remember their loved ones, while making a positive difference in the lives of others.  This year’s appeal is set to be even more remarkable, as the appeal donations over the past 10 years will reach in excess of £380,000, providing exceptional end-of-life care for thousands of people in the local community.  All are welcome to donate to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a cherished person. Each sunflower represents a heartfelt tribute to those who are no longer with us, but whose memories continue to shine brightly. Each participant will have a sunflower marker dedicated and personalised, symbolising their support for Pilgrims Hospices and the meaningful impact they are making.

    The hospices’ Supporter Relations team will transcribe the names of those to be remembered, on to each sunflower, thereafter they will be prominently displayed in the hospice garden of choice, creating a vibrant display for people to visit on the Sunflower days.  The Sunflowers will remain in the gardens through to the end of August, or can be collected on the days as a keepsake.

    To take part in Sunflower Memories this year, simply call Pilgrims Supporter Relations team on 01227 782066 and let them know you would like to remember with a sunflower.  By making a donation for your sunflower you will be helping others who need our care and their families.

    Ellie Cane, Pilgrims Individual Giving Manager said: “This appeal provides a special opportunity for people to honour and remember their loved ones, while helping Pilgrims continue to deliver outstanding care for patients and their families.

    This beautiful event allows us to spend time with supporters, old and new, sharing news on Pilgrims Hospices care and services, as we move forward, continue to expand, and improve our facilities to help even more people.”

    This year these very special days will take place on Saturday 22 July from 10am – 2pm; Pilgrims staff and volunteers will welcome visitors to share memories, and celebrate in the sunshine.  To help celebrate this special 10 years of Sunflower Memoires, the Wellbeing Team will be attending, displaying some of the beautiful sunflower themed artwork created by patients in the Therapy Centres.

    Billy Williams, Wellbeing Lead, said: “When patients attend groups such as ‘Time to Create’, they can relax in a friendly supportive environment, talk to like-mined people openly, and discuss the concerns freely.  Trying something new or rekindling some skills that have been forgotten can be excellent therapy, we know this, the chatter and laughter that can be heard at the groups is fantastic, and we encourage staff from all areas of the charity to come and get involved, chat with our patients, and enjoy doing something creative.

    “Some of our ‘Time to Create’ patients have also been growing Sunflowers from seed, that will form part of the displays for everyone to enjoy on the day.

    Pilgrims rely heavily on the generosity of their supporters to continue delivering exceptional care to patients, and their families. Your donations will directly impact lives, ensuring they can provide comfort, dignity, and support when it is needed most.

    To find out more or get involved, visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers, e-mail: sunflowermemories@pilgrimshospices.org, or call our friendly Supporter Relations team on 01227 782 062

    Pilgrims Hospices is a leading charity dedicated to providing outstanding end-of-life care, and support to individuals with life-limiting illnesses. With a team of compassionate professionals, Pilgrims ensures that patients and their families receive exceptional physical, emotional, and spiritual care, throughout their journey.  Funds raised through the Sunflower Memories Appeal will directly support the wide range of services offered by the charity, including specialised nursing care, emotional support, and practical assistance. These vital resources enable patients to live their lives to the fullest, surrounded by love, dignity, and compassion, until the end.

    With your support, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of those facing life-limiting illnesses and their families.

    16th July 2021

    Hospice Sunflower Memories event continues to grow thanks to local nurseries

    The delightful and uplifting Sunflower Memories appeal returns to Pilgrims Hospices gardens in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet on Saturday 24 July 2021.


    Last year, the much-loved remembrance event took place virtually due to COVID restrictions. This year, although in the scaled back return of Pilgrims events, the charity hopes to raise £50,000 following their best year ever in 2020. People are invited to dedicate a sunflower marker to their loved one and attend the beautiful hospice gardens to share treasured memories together safely.

    Sara Scriven, Pilgrims Individual Giving Manager, said: “After a year when we’ve all been asked to stay at home, and many of us have been unable to visit family and friends, we’re so glad to be able to invite everyone back into our hospice gardens to remember again, in a COVID-secure way.

    Sunflower Memories is such an important event in our calendar, as it not only helps us continue caring and supporting our patients’ family and friends after they’ve lost their loved one, but it also helps ensure we can continue our vital work.

    Kate White, Head of Nursing

    “It’s so important to us all at Pilgrims that we are able to offer our community the opportunity to remember and celebrate their loved ones’ lives, and to invite them into our beautiful hospice gardens. We also would like to encourage anyone across east Kent who has lost a loved one to take part, regardless of a connection to Pilgrims. Sunflowers is a remembrance for everyone in our community, and now is the time to join together in celebration, to remember and honour those we’ve lost.”

    The events will be accompanied by reflective music and Pilgrims are delighted to have support from their dedicated volunteer workforce on the day to help visitors to find their sunflower memory markers, and to keep the event safe for all those wishing to share in this very special day.

    Sara Scriven with Peter Buscall from Meadow Grange Nursery

     

    “We are hugely grateful for the support of our local community and businesses for helping to make this event happen. Peter Buscall at Meadow Grange Nursery has supplied all of the flower pots required for the events on all three Pilgrims sites and is growing 100 sunflowers for the Canterbury day. Jackie Young of Youngs Nurseries has generously donated all the seeds needed. Regular members of Pilgrims volunteer workforce Carol Whittaker and Isabel Hack are growing 100 sunflowers for the Thanet day and Jan Wear is growing 100 for the Ashford day. We could not be more grateful for everyone’s commitment to this very special annual event.” Sara added.

    Although on this occasion the hospices will not be providing refreshments, supporters are asked to bring their own picnic blankets and refreshments to keep the event COVID-secure.

    Monday 19 July is the deadline to ensure the markers can be in the ground for the event, and to secure a time slot to visit on the day. The events will run from 10:00 am-5:00 pm on Saturday 24 July on all three Pilgrims sites, and supporters need to book an half hour slot to visit the gardens, find their sunflower, and spend a little time remembering their loved one in the beautiful surroundings.

    Kate White, Pilgrims Head of Nursing, said: “Sunflower Memories is such an important event in our calendar, as it not only helps us continue caring and supporting our patients’ family and friends after they’ve lost their loved one, but it also helps ensure we can continue our vital work. Reflecting on the year myself and my team have experienced, I am continually amazed by the incredible work they do, and I feel so proud to work for an organisation that has continued providing compassionate care and support to our community through such difficult times. But it is only through the support of people donating to appeals, like Sunflower Memories, that this has been possible.”

    If you would like to dedicate a sunflower marker in a Pilgrims Hospices garden of your choice, visit www.pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or call Pilgrims Supporter Relations team on 01227 782 062 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm) or email supporter.relations@pilgrimshospices.org. The team will be pleased to help you with your dedication.


    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. 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.

    4th August 2020

    Hundreds join together online to enjoy UK’s first Hospice Remembrance Film

    Pilgrims Hospices has created an innovative remembrance film, as a way to continue its annual summer remembrance Sunflower Memories, bringing it into the homes of hundreds across east Kent.

    The event, which would usually be hosted in the hospice gardens at Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet, was transformed into an online celebration. Supporters had their sunflower memory markers sent to them to keep in a special place at home, and were invited to make a dedication to their loved one on an online Memory Wall.

    The UK’s first Hospice remembrance film, was put together by Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager, with the help of BBC filmmaker Kerry King.

    Sara told us, “Instead of inviting our supporters into our hospice gardens, this year we brought Sunflower Memories to them. The film was months in the making, and we hope it has given our supporters a real insight into the world of the hospice, and the extraordinary collaborative effort that helps bring Sunflower Memories together each year.”

    “We’re go grateful to the supporters, volunteers and staff who shared their stories with us as part of this very special remembrance. With your help, Sunflowers Memories has been our most successful to date, with over 750 people dedicating a sunflower to their loved ones, raising an incredible £31,700 so far. This amount will help support thousands of patients living with terminal illness in east Kent, and with donations still coming in, the Hospice will be able to reach so many more.”

    The film can be viewed on the Pilgrims Hospices YouTube channel or on their website on www.pilgrimshospices.org/sunflower, where you can also still dedicate a sunflower memory marker to someone you love.


    For more information contact the Pilgrims Hospices Supporter Relations Team on 01227 782062, or at supporter.relations@pilgrimshospices.org.

     

    10th July 2020

    First Hospice in the UK to create a Remembrance Film

    Pilgrims Hospices annual summer remembrance Sunflower Memories holds a special place in the hearts of many people across east Kent. Hundreds take part every year by dedicating a sunflower memory marker to their loved ones, and coming together in the hospice gardens in July to share memories and celebrate their loved ones lives.

    This year, due to Covid-19, the hospice has been working hard to transform Sunflower Memories from a garden celebration to a remembrance which can be enjoyed from the comfort of home.

    Sunflower memory markers are being sent to people at home, and the Individual Giving team are hard at work to prepare a very special film, which will be released on 25 July at 2pm.

    Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager said, “In a year when we’ve all been asked to stay at home, and many of us are self-isolating on our own, finding a way to support each other, and remember together, we felt was more important than ever.

    We’re so excited to be working with Kerry King, freelance BBC filmmaker, to create our Sunflower Memories remembrance film. We’re not just streaming an online service. This film has been months in the making, and will include many supporters sharing their stories, as well as a behind the scenes look at the extraordinary collaborative effort that helps bring Sunflower Memories together each year. It will be a wonderful insight into the world of the hospice, as well as hearing from some of our staff about what it’s been like working throughout the pandemic.”

    Sara adds, “At Pilgrims, we feel it is more important now than ever to come together and share in the memories of our loved ones, and this is why I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage everybody across east Kent, who has lost a loved one to take part, whether they’ve had a connection with the hospice or not. Sunflower Memories is a remembrance for everyone in east Kent. Now is the time to join together in celebration of our loved ones and remember.”

    Pilgrims Hospices Sunflower Memories remembrance film will be launched on Saturday 25 July at 2pm on their YouTube channel, website, and social media pages. For more information visit Sunflower Memories  call 01227 782062, or email supporter.relations@pilgrimshospices.org.


    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.

     

     

    7th July 2020

    Hospice brings Sunflowers home

    Pilgrims Hospices annual summer remembrance Sunflower Memories holds a special place in the hearts of many people across east Kent. Hundreds take part every year by dedicating a sunflower memory marker to their loved ones, and coming together in the hospice gardens in July to share memories and celebrate their loved ones lives.

    This year, due to COVID-19, the hospice has been working hard to transform Sunflower Memories from a garden celebration to a remembrance which can be enjoyed from the comfort of home.

    Sunflower memory markers are being sent to people at home, and the Individual Giving team are hard at work to prepare a very special film, which will be released on 25 July at 2pm.

    We’re so excited to be working with Kerry King, freelance BBC filmmaker

    Sara, Pilgrims

    Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager said: “In a year when we’ve all been asked to stay at home, and many of us are self-isolating on our own, finding a way to support each other, and remember together, we felt was more important than ever.

    We’re so excited to be working with Kerry King, freelance BBC filmmaker, to create our Sunflower Memories remembrance film. This virtual event will include many supporters sharing their stories, as well as a behind the scenes look at the extraordinary collaborative effort that helps bring Sunflower Memories together each year. It will be a wonderful insight into the world of the hospice, as well as hearing from some of our staff about what it’s been like working throughout the pandemic.”

    Sara adds: “At Pilgrims, we feel it is more important now than ever to come together and share in the memories of our loved ones, and this is why I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage everybody across east Kent, who has lost a loved one to take part, whether they’ve had a connection with the hospice or not. Sunflower Memories is a remembrance for everyone in east Kent. Now is the time to join together in celebration of our loved ones and remember.”

    At Pilgrims, we feel it is more important now than ever to come together and share in the memories of our loved ones

    Sara, Pilgrims

    Pilgrims Hospices Sunflower Memories virtual event will be launched on Saturday 25 July at 2pm on their YouTube channel, website, and social media pages. For more information or to take part, visit www.pilgrimshospices.org/sunflower call 01227 782062, or email supporter.relations@pilgrimshospices.org.


    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. 

     

    31st July 2019

    Sunflowers in full bloom for hospice remembrance event

    Pilgrims Hospices saw hundreds attend summer remembrance this weekend to share and celebrate cherished memories of loved ones.


    Pilgrims Hospices was visited by around 800 people for its annual Sunflower Memory days to see beautiful sunflower plaque displays at the charity’s Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet sites. Despite a slightly damp weekend, there was still a lovely atmosphere at each event with the opportunity for friends and family to remember and celebrate their loved ones’ lives.

    This sixth annual Sunflower appeal was met with enthusiasm, despite the weather, and spirits were boosted at Thanet and Ashford with the addition of a pop-up prosecco stall! Visitors shared favourite memories with the Pilgrims team in the Therapy Centres, while enjoying cool drinks, tea, and sunflower-themed cakes. So far the event has raised an incredible £35,000, thanks to the amazing generosity of Pilgrims’ supporters. This amount will support 100s of people living with a terminal illness in east Kent, and with donations continuing to come in the hospices will be able to reach many more.

    Sara Scriven, Pilgrims Hospices Individual Giving Manager, said: “These Sunflower days provide a lovely atmosphere for quiet reflection, but also allow our supporters to share stories of their loved ones with those who have been through similar experiences. As well as the sunflower marker displays, we also decorated the Therapy Centres and our gardens with beautiful sunflower seedlings. They were grown by Pilgrims volunteers and The Fifth Trust, another east Kent charity that provides work experience and opportunities for adults with learning difficulties.”

    We are seeing this appeal grow, year on year. We would like to thank all those who have made our remembrance days so very special. The amount raised for hospice care is just stunning and will allow us to provide the best possible support to families who need us.

    Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager

    All three events were delivered with the kind help of Pilgrims volunteers at the refreshments, merchandise and sunflower plant stalls. They also helped welcome visitors to find their sunflower markers and put their cherished memories and photos on our Memory Walls.

    This year’s summer appeal was themed around the wonderful work the Wellbeing Practitioners at each hospice do. Pilgrims aim is to support as many people as possible, both out in the community and at the in-patient units, and the Therapy Centres are very much part of this.

    Sara added: “We are seeing this appeal grow, year on year. We would like to thank all those who have made our remembrance days so very special. The amount raised for hospice care is just stunning and will allow us to provide the best possible support to families who need us. Every £30 could pay for nursing care, either on our wards or in a patient’s own home, so the funds raised at events like these are vital to the work Pilgrims Hospices does.”

    The sunflower marker displays will remain in the grounds at each hospice site in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet for the next two weeks for visitors to view them.

    If you still wish to take part, Pilgrims will continue to accept contributions until mid-August via www.pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers, the Supporter Relations team on 01227 782 062 or by visiting your local Pilgrims Hospices reception.

    Thank you to the Westerleigh Group for their continued annual sponsorship of the Sunflower appeal, and Young’s Nurseries and Elham Valley Vineyard Garden Centre for donating seeds, pots and compost for our volunteers to grow 200 sunflowers. Also thanks to The Fifth Trust for growing 100 sunflowers for the Canterbury event; for more information on this charity visit The Fifth Trust.


    Pilgrims Hospices supports hundreds of local people coping with a life-limiting illness and their families each year. They offer a range of services: from end of life care given on its wards to their Wellbeing Programme supporting people after their diagnosis to live well and stay independent.

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