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
George
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.
16th July 2019
Sunflowers bring two local charities together
The Fifth Trust at Elham Valley Vineyard is supporting a fellow local charity by growing beautiful sunflower plants for Pilgrims Hospices Sunflower Memories remembrance, on Saturday 27 July.
The annual event takes place in the Canterbury hospice gardens, offering people an opportunity to celebrate the lives of loved ones and to dedicate a sunflower in their memory. The informal garden party with music and refreshments helps to raise more than £30,000 for local hospice care each year.
Sara Scriven from Pilgrims Hospices met Peter Buscall, Horticulture Manager for The Fifth Trust at Elham Valley Garden Centre with some of his students to find out how the young plants are developing.
Peter said: “All of the students are adults with a variety of learning disabilities, those who are involved with our horticulture training programme are enjoying watching the sunflowers develop from seeds to strong plants now.
“They have been involved from the point of planting and are continuing to nurture the sunflowers in the greenhouses here at Elham Valley so that they are ready just at the right time for the Pilgrims event on Saturday 27th July.”
Sara Scriven said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to the students along with Peter and his team for supporting us with this project. Also, for so kindly donating all the compost and pots!
“The students were amazing and so welcoming, it’s truly a very special place for those who need some additional support in their adult years.”
The Sunflower Memories appeal from Pilgrims offers people an opportunity to dedicate a sunflower to a loved one in return for a donation. Pilgrims write the dedications on striking sunflower memory markers and plant them in the gardens of the chosen hospice. The sunflowers grown by the students at The Fifth Trust will be available to purchase on the day of the event.
Pilgrims Sunflower Memories remembrance events take place at all three hospices sites:
The Fifth Trust offers a wide range of work-based and therapeutic activities for adults with learning difficulties, you can find out more by visiting www.fifthtrust.co.uk.
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 Pilgrims Wellbeing Programme for more information.
5th July 2019
Sunflower Memories: Lyndsey’s story
After Lyndsey Campion’s dad, Ian Davies, was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet in 2016, the family now dedicate a sunflower in his memory as part of the charity’s Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, Lyndsey shares how it helps them to give back and support other families.
My lovely dad was an inspirational, wonderfully funny man. He had a great fun spirit and was loved by all, none more so than his 13 grandchildren who adored their “silly, playful grandad”. His family were the most important thing in the world to him and he always had such a special bond with my sisters Jo and Kirsty, too. He was truly a free spirit, would often go off wandering for days at a time and never worried about a thing; even when he was ill he still put everyone else first.
You could usually find Dad doing his carpentry work, fishing with my brother, or helping and looking after people; he even made friends with the local homeless and would often invite them home for something to eat! He had such a kind and generous heart, and always shared his winnings out with his children whenever he won on his beloved horses.
The in memory events at Pilgrims give us as a family a chance to return to the hospice where we feel close to Dad, whilst being amongst others who have gone through the same experience and emotions. We will never forget the care and love he received throughout his illness and will be forever grateful that Dad had this special place in his life.
Lyndsey
When my dad first became ill with lung cancer in 2012, he was told that he’d only have a few months, but with his typical determination he would live life to the full for another four years.
Dad first experienced the hospice as a day patient, attending craft sessions and lunches, and enjoyed many a good roast dinner there! He loved making friends with the volunteers and other patients at Pilgrims, which gave him a safe place to talk about any worries he had.
Dad was a big Arsenal supporter and when he became very ill, my sister Jo managed to put out a Facebook post that resulted in Ian Wright coming down to visit him, which caused quite a stir amongst everyone that saw him on his way to see my dad!
The light in Dad’s life in his last years was the support that the Thanet hospice gave him – he always described it as his “happy place”. The last time he was brought into the hospice before he passed away in 2016, he looked around and simply said “what a lovely day it is”, as he felt so comfortable in these familiar surroundings.
We were all really nervous when Dad started visiting the hospice, but it’s such a bright and positive space, and everyone is so caring, always going the extra mile for those in their care.
I donated to the Sunflower Memories event last year and am looking forward to attending this year. It’s important for us to feel that we are giving back to the hospice and contributing towards the care of others. The in memory events at Pilgrims give us as a family a chance to return to the hospice where we feel close to Dad, whilst being amongst others who have gone through the same experience and emotions. We will never forget the care and love he received throughout his illness and will be forever grateful that Dad had this special place in his life.
Sunflower Memories events will take place at our hospices in July 2019:
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.
21st June 2019
Sunflower Memories: Amanda’s story
After Amanda Belfield’s ex-partner, Paul, was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, she now dedicates a sunflower in his memory as part of the charity’s Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, Amanda shares why the event is so special to her.
Paul was a furniture salesman, he enjoyed chatting to people and had the gift of the gab. He could walk into a crowded room and talk to complete strangers about anything. He loved dogs and it would take us ages to get down the road or round a park as he would always stop to make a fuss of them.
He enjoyed champagne and cigars, and we’d often treat ourselves to afternoon tea at the Ritz, Claridges or Browns on special occasions. Being half Scottish, he always hired a kilt for these occasions and tourists would stop and take photos of him walking through London, which he loved!
I felt closer to Paul, spending time at the hospice where he spent his last days, and it was comforting to share this experience with others who had been through the same.
Amanda
He was a loving dad to his two children, Victoria and Duncan, grandfather to Mollie, and a larger than life character, always joking and laughing. Even when he became very ill, he still had a smile on his face and was cracking jokes.
Paul
In August 2017, Paul was sadly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In November, we were told that unfortunately there was nothing they could do apart from palliative chemotherapy.
It was devastating news for him, myself and his two children, but we rallied round. We all hoped that he would make Christmas that year but unfortunately in December Paul’s condition worsened, and the decision was made to take him from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London to Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury.
Myself and his children never left his side whilst he was at the hospice, and all the staff there were wonderfully accommodating with us virtually setting up camp in his room. Whilst Paul has left such a big hole in all of our lives, we are so grateful that he was able to have his family around him when the time came, thanks to the wonderful care and support that we had from all the staff and volunteers at the Canterbury hospice.
I attended Sunflower Memories for the first time last year. It was very emotional to see Paul’s name on the little sunflower marker, as I still can’t quite believe he’s gone. However, it’s a really lovely day to be part of, to enjoy the music and even the sunshine last year! I felt closer to Paul, spending time at the hospice where he spent his last days, and it was comforting to share this experience with others who had been through the same. I shall look forward to attending once again this year and continuing to support this special place, which I cannot praise highly enough.
Sunflower Memories events will take place at our hospices in July 2019:
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: Alyson’s story
After Alyson McKenna’s partner, Mitch, was supported by Pilgrims Hospices, she now dedicates a sunflower in his memory as part of the charity’s Sunflower Memories campaign. Here, Alyson shares how joining together with others helps to bring her some peace.
Mitch was a kind, fun-loving, friendly, beautiful and generous man. Almost on a daily basis, he would surprise me with flowers, chocolate, a day out or any other wonderful thing that he could do to make us happy. He was a wonderful chef and loved his dogs immensely.
The first flowers he brought me were sunflowers and the first photo he sent me was of him holding them. The fact that as a single flower they stand tall, show colour, beauty and strength, you can’t help but smile when you see them.
The day brings me happiness and sadness, but seeing all of the other sunflowers and the people looking at them brings a touch of peace.
Alyson
Mitch passed away on 13 July 2014. On 25 July, my 50th birthday, I had bright colours and sunflowers as a gesture to him at his funeral.
Because the hospice had my contact details, they sent me a letter a month later about starting a sunflower appeal to raise money. I cried at such a wonderful idea and as it was so personal to me, I obviously took part.
Although the display has differed over the four years, the meaning remains the same. The memories of our loved ones who tried to stay strong are represented by these beautiful individual flowers of strength, courage and beauty.
On each of the sunflower plaques I have collected from the appeal, I have written the year and will do so for as long as the event continues. The day brings me happiness and sadness, but seeing all of the other sunflowers and the people looking at them brings a touch of peace. It’s very special to hold an event for the family and friends of those who have left us. There’s a complete sense of understanding between everyone there.
When I see sunflowers, I think of Mitch. I recently purchased a beautiful silver sunflower pendant based on Van Gogh’s painting from the National Gallery, which I wear every day.
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.
