After John Marchant’s wife, Betty, was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, he now dedicates a sunflower in hey memory as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, John shares how it helps him to remember Betty and ensure that Pilgrims can continue to support other families in the future.
I knew Betty for 61 years and we were married for 58, so it was a wrench to lose her after all that time and I miss her terribly.
Sunflower Memories helps both me and the hospice and long may it continue.
John
Although I was lucky enough to have her at home with me in her last months, the Pilgrims Hospices ‘girls’ came in regularly to look after her (and me) and I shall be forever grateful to them, hence my continuing support.
Betty was an attractive, intelligent woman and a really good friend. We enjoyed the same things, especially on Exmoor, our favourite holiday destination. I still go back there to remember her.
Sunflower Memories helps both me and the hospice and long may it continue.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
Sunflower Memories: Jane’s story
After Jane Dovey’s husband, Christopher, was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, she now dedicates a sunflower in his memory as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign.
Here, Jane shares how it helps her to keep Christopher’s memory alive and give back for the care they received.
I was first contacted by Pilgrims Hospices after my husband, Christopher, was referred by the hospital. My first thoughts were completely against anything to do with the hospice but that soon changed. The palliative care nurse was absolutely fantastic, and allowed me to care for Christopher at home. The support and help she offered when I stopped working to look after him was just amazing.
Every year, after the event, I collect my sunflower and place it on his grave – he was a gardener so I know he would love to have them near him.
Jane
When my husband’s condition worsened he was taken to hospital. We knew it was time for him to go to the hospice in Ashford, but we couldn’t move him, so Pilgrims came to us. To have their support at that time was so helpful, and is why I now continue to support the amazing work they do.
I particularly like to take part in Sunflower Memories each year, which is a wonderful way of keeping Christopher’s memory alive, and to give back to the hospice for what they have done for me. Every year, after the event, I collect my sunflower and place it on his grave – he was a gardener so I know he would love to have them near him. Pilgrims and Sunflower Memories are very close to my heart, and it’s lovely to know that I can remember my husband in this way and keep supporting their important work.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
26th June 2020
Sunflower Memories: David’s story
After David Hodgson’s wife, Christine, was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, he now dedicates a sunflower in her memory as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, David shares how it helps him to remember Christine in the company of others who have experienced Pilgrims’ care.
I first heard about Pilgrims Hospices through my GP when my wife, Christine, was being treated for a brain tumour and I was struggling to cope. I had thought the hospice would only be there for Christine near the end, but the GP told me that they provided help well before that point.
The staff in the Therapy Centre were wonderful and supported me and my wife through that difficult time. They helped with her pain management and enabled me to care for Christine at home, where she preferred to be. When she went into the hospice for her final days, the nurses were great, and the wider staff so compassionate and helpful.
I regularly attend Sunflower Memories, which I find a wonderful way of remembering Christine in the sunshine – when the weather holds up! It is comforting being around others who have been through similar experiences.
David
I tried the one-to-one counselling sessions they offered me then moved on to group counselling. I found the sessions very helpful, as I could see that others had the same feelings and worries that I did. I know now through talking and sharing with others that when anything brings back memories of the good times I had with Christine, shedding a tear is quite normal.
I regularly attend Sunflower Memories, which I find a wonderful way of remembering Christine in the sunshine – when the weather holds up! It is comforting being around others who have been through similar experiences. I have discovered with Pilgrims that there is much support you can give and receive from each other during such moments as I have experienced at the Sunflower Days.
The help I received from everybody at Pilgrims when Christine was ill and during my grieving has helped me tremendously. Thank you all and keep up the good work.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
23rd June 2020
Sunflower Memories: Edith’s story
After Edith Morgan’s husband, Harold, and two close family members were cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, she now dedicates sunflowers in their memories as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, Edith shares how it helps her to remember loved ones in a tranquil summer setting and give back for the care her family received.
I’ve had connections with Pilgrims Hospices for over ten years; my brother, husband, and sister-in-law have all been cared for by Pilgrims and I have been amazed by the hospice every time. I first found out about Pilgrims when my brother, George, was admitted to the Ashford hospice in 2009, after living with a terminal illness for seven years. It was my first experience of a hospice, and I was very impressed. The care and consideration that was shown there was amazing, and the peace it brought was so wonderful.
My husband, Harold, was cared for at home by the wonderful Pilgrims nurses. The kindness and understanding the staff showed us was just incredible, and helped us immensely. I often called for help and advice, and one of their nurses came to visit us at home regularly, and was there shortly before Harold died at home in 2016.
I had always got such pleasure from walking in the gardens at the hospice, so when I found out there was an event that saw them covered with sunflowers I really wanted to go. I do my best to attend each year; although I don’t have my own transport, my niece, Polly, attends with me, and we enjoy coming to see the sunflowers and sharing our memories.
Edith
Shortly after he passed away, my sister-in-law, Maureen, spent her final week in the Canterbury hospice, after being supported by the staff there throughout her illness. Our whole family was helped through a dreadful time; the aftercare of my brother and his family was wonderful and is still going on.
It was soon after Maureen died that I heard about Sunflower Memories, and I thought it was such a lovely idea I knew I had to take part. I had always got such pleasure from walking in the gardens at the hospice, so when I found out there was an event that saw them covered with sunflowers I really wanted to go. I do my best to attend each year; although I don’t have my own transport, my niece, Polly, attends with me, and we enjoy coming to see the sunflowers and sharing our memories.
Last year, I set up an annual direct debit so now I have the assurance of knowing that every year Harold and Maureen will always be two of the many sunflowers in the display. I love the hospice and the staff and I am so grateful to them for being there for me and my family.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
19th June 2020
Sunflower Memories: Kathleen’s story
After Kathleen Poole’s father, George, was cared for by Pilgrims Hospices, she now dedicates a sunflower in his memory as part of the charity’s annual Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, Kathleen shares how it helps her to remember George and support local hospice care at the same time.
My father, George, was first introduced to Pilgrims Hospices when the team got in touch with him to offer help at home. A Pilgrims nurse came to visit him a few times to help with his medication and keep him comfortable. At first, he really didn’t want to go into the hospice, but later he changed his mind.
He loved the summer – it was his favourite time of year – so it feels appropriate to remember him then, and every year I bring his sunflower home to keep in my garden.
Kathleen
The care he was given at the Canterbury hospice was so good, and so different to what we had at the hospital. It was such a calm and peaceful place – they made my father feel calmer. They gave him so much care and attention, even if he wasn’t aware of it – bringing water to the table and washing him. They were so good with him, and our family was made to feel welcome to stay and treated so well I could spend all day with my father without feeling in the way. We never felt abandoned when leaving the hospice; I knew they were still looking after him even when I wasn’t there.
This is why I now take part in Sunflower Memories, because it’s such a good way to support the hospice and remember my father. It allows me to give back to the place that made him feel like he was important – they treated him like a person, not a number. He loved the summer – it was his favourite time of year – so it feels appropriate to remember him then, and every year I bring his sunflower home to keep in my garden.
Due to COVID-19, Sunflower Memories will take place online in July 2020.
Although we’re not holding events in our hospice gardens this year, we hope you will join us for an online remembrance throughout July, culminating in a special celebration on Saturday 25 July at 2:00pm.
If you’d like to dedicate a sunflower in memory of a loved one please visit pilgrimshospices.org/sunflowers or contact the team:
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims free services, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about your options or click here to read about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
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.