30 years of change and innovation and what a difference you have made
We’re excited to share that from 3 April 2026, you will be able to buy entries for our weekly Lottery draw in all of our Pilgrims Hospices shops.
It’s still fantastic value at just £1 per entry, with prizes of up to £20,000 to be won.
Since Pilgrims Hospices Lottery began, so much has changed. Since launching our lottery in 1996, our services have grown, reaching more local people. In 1996, our Therapy Centres supported 200 patients. Today, we give compassionate end-of-life care and support to more than 900 patients and their carers each year though our Therapy Centres.
We built our Ashford hospice in 2001, and in 2009 we introduced our Hospice at Home service, offering support and personal care for families looking after loved ones in their last days of life.
Later, in 2013, we opened our education and training centre, the Ann Robertson Centre, named after our founder, to provide education and training for healthcare professionals. These are just a few of the many milestones we’ve reached since the Lottery began.
Over the years, our Lottery team has been just as busy. With the help of our experienced office staff, volunteers, collectors and promotional team, we’ve introduced new ways for you to support Pilgrims, including festive superdraws, scratch cards, wedding favours and gift vouchers.
In 2014, we made joining our Lottery even easier, with the introduction of Direct Debit payments; now, in our 30th year, you can buy your weekly draw entries in our shops, too.
Celebrating our 30th Anniversary
This year is the Lottery’s 30th Anniversary; our focus is on raising awareness and funds for the care Pilgrims provides through our in-patient units, in the community or in people’s own homes.
As part of the celebrations, we’ve been delighted to welcome many new Lottery supporters from across east Kent. Keep an eye out for our promotional team in your area, and please consider joining the growing community who collectively make 21,500 weekly Lottery entries and help us make a real difference.
And finally, no anniversary would be complete without mentioning a much‑loved member of our team: our little car, fondly named Lotty, who joined us in 2012. If you spot Lotty zipping around east Kent raising funds and awareness, please give her a wave.
Thank you for supporting us and for helping us provide end-of-life care to our community.
By entering our weekly Lottery, taking part in our festive superdraw, buying wedding favours or gift cards, you join thousands of people who help raise more than £1.2 million every year for Pilgrims Hospices.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
Pilgrims Hospices is thrilled to announce Mary Archer from Whitstable as the latest winner of its Pilgrims Hospices Lottery rollover, taking home a fantastic prize of £20,000.
Mary’s win came as a joyful surprise on her birthday, adding a much-needed boost during a challenging time. Recently diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer, Mary is undergoing treatment and awaits further test results.
Despite her health battle, she remains positive and grateful:
“I was bowled over by the news of my £20,000 win. It has come at a really helpful time, and I so appreciate it.”
Mary’s connection to Pilgrims Hospices is deeply personal. Her late mother, Pamela, was a dedicated hospice volunteer for many years.
Inspired by this legacy, Mary has supported Pilgrims Hospices and joined the Pilgrims Hospices Lottery and now, with this significant win, she hopes to use the funds to support her health journey and future plans.
Invasive lobular breast cancer, the type Mary is fighting, can be difficult to detect through routine screening and affects approximately 15% of breast cancer patients. Mary hopes her story will raise awareness about this ‘sneaky’ form of cancer and encourage women to be vigilant about subtle changes in their bodies.
Pilgrims Hospices would like to congratulate Mary on her win, and thank all Lottery participants whose support helps fund vital hospice care services across east Kent.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
31st March 2025
Pilgrims Hospices Lottery: From small beginnings to over 21,000 entries
1996 saw the beginnings of Pilgrims Hospices Lottery, with an army of volunteers stomping the streets to gain supporters and willing participants to our first ever draw in April 1996.
Nearly 30 years on, and thanks to many of the same early collectors and members, we go from strength to strength. Our draw now has over 21,000 entries every week and continues to grow. It’s a fun and easy way to give and be part of the Pilgrims community, providing regular, sustainable funds to go towards Pilgrims very special services. Did you know that more than 5,500 winners cheques worth over £200k are sent out every year?!
Following the success of the weekly draw, we’re delighted to say that we’ve also been able to add several associated products to our portfolio over the years, which have proven to be very popular. We now offer scratch cards, wedding favours and gift vouchers for any event– including Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries.
Fun facts!
In 2024, our dedicated team of Lottery Collectors walked over 3,000 miles, the Lottery team signed up over 4,000 new entries and we congratulated more than 5,500 lucky winners.
Plus, our ever-popular Christmas Superdraw; 2024 year, with £75,000 brought in. This was our most successful Superdraw in over a decade. Thank you to the thousands of you who took part and made such a difference to so many. It really does mean a lot to us all at Pilgrims, particularly special and appreciated in these challenging times.
As a weekly lottery, we contribute to good news and happy memories. We like to tell and be told good news stories, the joys of winning, the difference a win can make; going towards holidays, celebrations, treats for children and grandchildren alike, creating blissful flashbacks and treasured moments. Our very kind and generous supporters have donated thousands of pounds worth of winnings to Pilgrims Hospices in this last year alone. Thank you so very much, it really does make such a big difference and helps us continue to provide our compassionate care to those who need it the most.
We are still fantastic value at just £1 a week per entry! Join today!
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
3rd March 2025
Pilgrims Hospices Lottery Superdraw Christmas 2024 raises over £75,000 for hospice care
Pilgrims Hospices is delighted to announce that its Lottery Superdraw Christmas 2024 raised more than £75,000 to support hospice care in the local community.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters, the 2024 Superdraw has become the most successful in over a decade, with thousands of you taking part.
Dr Pia Amsler
Pia Amsler, Medical Director at Pilgrims Hospices, and some of the patients who received her compassionate care and understanding, were integral to this vital fundraising campaign. Reflecting on its success, Pia said:
“It has been truly heartwarming to see the community come together for such an important cause. Many of our service users shared how much hospice care means to them, and I’m delighted to have been part of this incredible effort to raise funds that will directly impact the lives of so many. Every ticket purchased represents hope, compassion, and the opportunity to help people live well in every moment.”
The funds raised will go a long way in supporting Pilgrims Hospices’ mission to provide high-quality care and services for patients and their families across east Kent. By purchasing a ticket, participants not only contributed to the draw’s success, but also played a vital role in ensuring that Pilgrims can continue to offer its life-affirming care to those who need it most.
Shiralee Riddell, Pilgrims Lottery Manager said:
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who purchased a ticket and helped us achieve this remarkable result. Your generosity means that we can continue to be there for people at the most challenging times of their lives, helping them live well in every moment. This success is a testament to the amazing support we receive from our community.”
As Pilgrims Hospices looks ahead in 2025, the funds raised through this Superdraw will ensure that even more people can benefit from its compassionate care, enabling patients to live as well as possible, despite serious illness, until they die well.
Thank you to everyone who made the Superdraw such an amazing success and helped make a real difference to hospice care in our area.
With big cash prizes to be won each week, you will also be supporting those who need our care and services.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
