Pilgrims supporters add colour to the coastline of Thanet
The Thanet 5K Colour Run returned to Margate with a blast of colour on Sunday 20 October, raising valuable funds for Pilgrims Hospices care. More than 800 adults and children were on a mission to add colour to the coastline of Thanet. Complete with colourful glasses and white t-shirts, excited Pilgrims supporters got ready to run, jog and walk through the clouds of vibrant and multi-coloured paints.
Those taking part warmed up with a fun work out from Bex from Zuma Margate, followed by the countdown from Karen Kenward, Pilgrims Hospices Community Fundraising Manager. The sky was filled with colour as the lively crowds made their way through the colour stations and along the coastal route from The Oval, Clintonville, Margate. The atmosphere was filled with the sound of laughter as everyone set off toward Palm Bay.
The atmosphere this event creates is just incredible.
Karen, Pilgrims Hospices
Karen said: “This is Pilgrims Hospices fourth Colour Run and, again we’ve exceeded our expectations.
“We were delighted to welcome Pilgrims Chair of Trustees, Richard Davis, who came to watch the spectacle and cheer our runners on their way. Richard also handed out the colourful sunglasses to everyone taking part in the event.”
Richard said: “I went to help and support at the Colour Run last year and, put my name down to get involved again this year.
“The colours and the number of supporters are just overwhelming, such a wonderful and enjoyable event for the whole family.”
Karen went on to say: “The atmosphere this event creates is just incredible; you really have to be there to see it, colour and laughter all the way.
“What an amazing way to raise much needed funds to support palliative care for the next person who needs us.”
A huge Pilgrims thank you to Your Leisure, Westwood Cross Shopping Centre, Margate Ambulance, Stagecoach, Copy Shop, Academy Radio, Matt & Vino from Mini Stores in Deal, Bex for our warm up, all the staff and volunteers who helped make the event possible and most importantly, each and everyone of you for taking part. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, see you all next year.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,400 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports 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 Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford 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.
7th August 2018
Patient treats Pilgrims’ nurses to ice lollies
Thoughtful Pilgrims patient, Steve Price, treated the care team at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet to ice lollies as temperatures in Margate rocketed into the high 20 degrees.
Computer programmer Steve, who took early retirement in 2004, has been spending some time at the Margate hospice to help manage his pain before returning to his home in Deal. Steve was diagnosed with life-limiting pancreatic cancer; the Pilgrims community team has been supporting him and will continue to visit his home when he returns there soon.
Steve said: “I thought it would be nice to offer the Pilgrims staff a cooling treat during this prolonged period of scorching temperatures. My daughter, Kate, did some ice lolly shopping before bringing my granddaughter Lucy to visit me at the Thanet hospice.
I was so pleased to have been able to offer some cooling treats to the Pilgrims team. I just thought everyone has been so kind and looked after me, I wanted to do something nice for them. The staff have been brilliant.
Steve
“Pilgrims chef George found freezer space for the lollies and I was so pleased to have been able to offer some cooling treats to the Pilgrims team. I just thought everyone has been so kind and looked after me, I wanted to do something nice for them. The staff have been brilliant; nothing is too much trouble, even though the heat has been quite exhausting for everyone.”
Pilgrims’ care team Maxine Lewis, Sharon Hill, Louise Jarman and Lou Boulton
Georgina Braithwaite, Head Chef at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet, said: “It was a lovely surprise and a very kind gesture made by Steve. The mini heat wave has been quite a challenge over the past weeks so the lollies were really appreciated.
“My catering team has been working continuously to keep our patients, their families and our staff refreshed and hydrated. Our juicer machine has been working full time to supply cold fresh juice to patients whose appetites are being affected by some of the hottest weather we’ve experienced in a long time.”
It was a lovely surprise and a very kind gesture made by Steve. The mini heat wave has been quite a challenge over the past weeks so the lollies were really appreciated.
Georgina Braithwaite, Head Chef at Pilgrims Hospices
Steve’s daughter Kate said: “Everyone has been so lovely to my dad, he’s had time to relax and respond to his treatment. We are very aware that the environment really feels like home and everyone is always ready to offer help and greet us with a kind smile.
“The staff and volunteers have been wonderful and spent time with my daughter Lucy, which has allowed me to have some precious time with my dad.”
It’s great to be making and sharing some wonderful memories right now.
Steve
Steve is looking forward to going home to enjoy the Deal seafront and also a special visit from his family who are arriving from Australia, especially as he will meet a new grandchild for the first time. Proud granddad Steve is also looking forward to sharing ice lollies and other seaside treats with them this summer.
“Although I know I will not be there to see all of the grandchildren grow up, it’s great to be making and sharing some wonderful memories right now,” Steve added.
Each year Pilgrims supports hundreds of local people coping with a life-limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from end of life care given on its wards to its Wellbeing and Social Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
