The countdown to Christmas has officially begun with Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Run! Tri-Series
Hundreds of festive fundraisers braved the chilly temperatures and embraced the ho, ho, holiday spirit on Sunday 11 December 2022 as they dashed along Margate seafront at Santas on the Seashore! all for a good Claus.
Margate was filled with Christmas cheer as more than 250 honorary Santas and elves ran, jogged, skipped and walked their way along the 3k or 5k route in support of Pilgrims Hospices, who care for thousands of local people each year who are living with an incurable illness.
The event is supported by a number of local companies and organisations, including Wahl. Grace Gummer from the east Kent-based company told us: “We love supporting this fantastic festive event for such a deserving local charity. It brings the community together and raises money in aid of the great care that Pilgrims Hospices offer families at such a difficult time.”
Early estimations show that this year, Santas on the Run! Tri-Series will raise in excess of £25,000. This could help fund the entire cost of Pilgrims Hospices community care teams for five days, as they provide specialist end-of-life care to patients spending Christmas at home with their families, and creating lasting memories.
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “Watching over 250 Santas and elves run, jog and walk through Margate on Sunday was truly a sight to been seen. Many drivers beeped their horns, and passersby cheered them all the way. I would like to personally thank Margate Ambulance, Pete our DJ, Sarah for our warm-up, Jackie on catering, Pilgrims Hospices staff, volunteers and all of our incredible supporters who came out to support this event in the cold to help raise further funding to support all of our services. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!”
Santas on the Seashore is part of Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Run Tri Series, with festive runs taking place over three consecutive weekends in Herne Bay, Folkestone and Margate. Since the event began in 2017, Santas on the Run! has become a family tradition in the seaside towns as a way to celebrate the countdown to Christmas, and has gone on to raise over £161,000 for local hospice care.
Pilgrims Hospices would like to thank everyone who joined in the jolliest jogs of the year this festive season, and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
8th December 2022
The countdown to Christmas has officially begun with Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Harbour!
Hundreds of festive fundraisers got into the ho, ho, holiday spirit by dashing along the Folkestone seafront on Sunday 4 December 2022 at Santas on the Harbour!
The historic Folkestone Harbour Arm was filled with Christmas cheer as over 250 honorary Santas and elves registered to run, jog, skip and walk their way along the 3k or 5k route in support of Pilgrims Hospices, who care for thousands of local people each year living with an incurable illness.
Many families enjoyed the jolly jog.
Early estimations show that this year, Santas on the Run! Tri-Series will raise in excess of £20,000. This could help fund the entire cost of Pilgrims Hospices community care teams for four days, as they provide specialist end-of-life care to patients spending Christmas at home with their families, and creating lasting memories.
Louise Newman, Community Fundraising Manager for Ashford Hospice said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone that braved the cold winds on Sunday at the Harbour Arm and along the chilly seafront. We really appreciate all of the wonderful fundraising from our Santas and elves, this will make a real difference to the many families being cared for by Pilgrims this Christmas.”
Santas on the Harbour is part of the Santas on the Run Tri Series, with festive runs taking place over three consecutive weekends in Herne Bay, Folkestone and Margate. Since the event began in 2017, Santas on the Run! has become a family tradition in the seaside towns as a way to celebrate the countdown to Christmas, and has gone on to raise over £161,000 for local hospice care.
There’s still time to have your ‘elf’ a merry day out with friends, family and colleagues by registering on the day at Santas on the Seashore! in Margate on Sunday 11 December. Simply head to the start venue at Fort Crescent, Margate CT9 1HX and register between 09:30-10:40am.
Wishing all Pilgrims supporters and all our speedy Santas a very Merry Christmas!
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
2nd December 2022
The countdown to Christmas has officially begun with Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Run! Tri-Series
Hundreds of festive fundraisers embraced the ho, ho, holiday spirit on Sunday 27 November 2022 as they dashed along Herne Bay seafront at Santas on the Bay! all for a good Claus.
Herne Bay was filled with Christmas cheer as more than 400 honorary Santas and elves ran, jogged, skipped and walked their way along the 3k or 5k route in support of Pilgrims Hospices, who care for thousands of local people each year who are living with an incurable illness.
The event is supported by a number of local companies and schools, including Wahl. Grace Gummer from the Herne Bay-based company told us: “We love supporting this fantastic festive event for such a deserving local charity. It brings the community together and raises money in aid of the great care that Pilgrims Hospices offer families at such a difficult time.”
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Early estimations show that this year, Santas on the Run! Tri-Series will raise in excess of £20,000. This could help fund the entire cost of Pilgrims Hospices’ community care teams for four days, as they provide specialist end-of-life care to patients spending Christmas at home with their families, and creating lasting memories.
Leila Ilkhan, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome hundreds of supporters to Herne Bay seafront, who donned their Santa and elf costumes to kick-start the festive season. The wet weather couldn’t dampen our Christmas spirits as onlookers cheered our supporters across the festive finish line. Thank you to everyone taking part who raised vital funds so we can continue delivering specialist end-of-life care to those who need us across east Kent.”
Since the event began in 2017, Santas on the Run! has become a family tradition in the seaside town as a way to celebrate the countdown to Christmas, and has gone on to raise over £161,000 for local hospice care. In 2019, the event added fun runs in Folkestone and Margate to create the Santas on the Run! Tri-Series, bringing the jolliest jog of the year to seafronts across east Kent.
There’s still time to have your ‘elf’ a merry day out with friends, family and colleagues by registering on the day at Santas on the Harbour! in Folkestone on Sunday 4 December, or registering in advance for Santas on the Seashore! on Sunday 11 December.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
27th October 2022
Let the music play on: Neil creates lasting legacy with the Blackbird Project
In 2019, Pilgrims Hospices launched the Blackbird Project, enabling patients to record messages for their loved ones to keep forever on special blackbird-shaped USB sticks. The project was started by Sheena and Nick Jackaman, whose son Ben received Pilgrims’ care.
When Neil Wright from Deal was referred to Pilgrims after being diagnosed with cancer, the charity helped him to make a recording for his wife, Pamela. Here, she shares why the Blackbird Project is so special.
Neil
When my father died suddenly in 1984, I longed to hear the sound of his voice again. We had a reel-to-reel tape recorder from childhood that Dad would use to sing and talk to us. Unfortunately, the tapes were old and fragile, so they became twisted and ravelled up when they played, and I was very disappointed to find they wouldn’t work.
Sadly, my late husband, Neil, was diagnosed with cancer in September 2019. I cared for him at home, and when he was unable to stand and walk, we had a bed downstairs so he could look out on his garden, which he loved. We liked watching the blackbird that visited there.
We became aware of the Blackbird Project when Neil was referred to and supported by Pilgrims Hospices, and saw the brochure they had designed and produced. During this time, in April 2021, Sara Hennessy, an occupational therapist at the Thanet hospice, came to our house and helped Neil to record a message for me that I could listen to in the future. I think this is an excellent service, giving terminally ill patients the opportunity and assistance to leave a personal message for their loved ones on a blackbird-shaped USB stick.
Neil was a talented musician and he contributed greatly to the community, giving his time freely to support the arts, theatre events and festivals in Kent, particularly in his hometown of Deal. Neil knew the Jackaman family, having taught Ben and Anna, his sister, during his career, and was sad to hear that Ben passed away aged 34 from cancer at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury.
I have listened to my dear husband Neil’s Blackbird recording and it is wonderful to hear his voice. It brings me great comfort and is a treasured possession.
Pamela
As Neil’s illness progressed, we talked about Ben’s legacy and decided that when the time came, donations kindly given in remembrance of Neil should go to the Blackbird Project as it is such a wonderful idea.
On 11 August 2021, Neil was admitted to the Thanet hospice for pain relief, where he stayed for three weeks. All the staff were very compassionate and caring; they provided a welcoming and comfortable environment for us to be together during such a difficult time. Neil returned home with a care plan for support in the community.
His passion for music stayed with him throughout this time, until sadly he passed away at home on 12 October 2021.
I have listened to my dear husband Neil’s Blackbird recording and it is wonderful to hear his voice. It brings me great comfort and is a treasured possession. I’m sure many other patients and their loved ones who Pilgrims care for will continue to benefit as much as I have from this project in the future.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
7th October 2022
Angela enjoys getting creative with Pilgrims Hospices
Angela Clarke from Westbrook near Margate attends weekly Time to Create sessions at Pilgrims Hospices, which offer fun, creative activities aimed at improving patients’ wellbeing.
She is enjoying creating artwork, meeting new friends and experiencing a different side to hospice care that she didn’t know about until coming to Pilgrims.
Through being referred to a Pilgrims breathlessness management course by a nurse at Guy’s Hospital, London, Angela heard about the charity’s wider wellbeing services and was keen to find out more. She was introduced to Billy Williams and Kyla Szukala, Wellbeing Practitioners, who welcomed her to the Time to Create group at the Thanet hospice.
I always thought hospice care was just offered at the end of life, and there was a fear around it. How very wrong I was. It’s friendly; we’re all struggling, but you can lose yourself for a few hours and just be.
Angela
Angela said: “I’m a complete novice, but I’m really enjoying it. We’ve worked with acrylics, watercolours and pastels, made Easter wreaths and done a project for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We also made felt teddy bears; I didn’t finish mine in the group because I had to go to hospital, but I took it with me to work on during my stay, and it helped to keep me busy and take my mind off things.
“Having a finished product is lovely, although that’s not what matters really – it’s the taking part and enjoying others’ company. It’s nice to be away from home and spend time with different people. I look forward to the Time to Create groups, and I miss them when they don’t run.”
Angela also takes her newfound creativity home with her; after using watercolours in the group, she now paints the fruit and flowers in her garden.
She added: “I always thought hospice care was just offered at the end of life, and there was a fear around it. How very wrong I was. It’s friendly; we’re all struggling, but you can lose yourself for a few hours and just be.”
To find out more about the Wellbeing services offered at Pilgrims, visit:
Hospice Care Week is an annual event where we recognise and celebrate Hospice UK and hospice care nationwide. It’s an opportunity to show the world the value of support, of care and of what matters to us as individuals at the end of life when we need it most.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
5th October 2022
Colour Run returns in Thanet for Pilgrims Hospices
The Pilgrims Hospices 5k Colour Run returned to Thanet with a blast of colour on Sunday 2 October 2022.
Over 600 adults and children attended, complete with colourful glasses and white t-shirts, all ready to run and walk through the clouds of vibrant and multi-coloured powders.
Liam Dunne (15, Margate), first over the finish line, with Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager
Those taking part warmed up with a fun warm-up with Bex from Dance 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 Palm Bay, Clintonville, Margate. The atmosphere was filled with the sound of laughter and colour as everyone set off along the coastal route down towards Margate.
Karen said: “It was so lovely to see many attend, with lots of familiar faces and spectators for the sixth year of this Thanet Colour Run, which has raised £192,548 to date in support of Pilgrims Hospices, with more sponsorship still to come in, thank you all so very much. This really is such a colourful and fun event which needs to be seen, plus an incredible way to raise much-needed funds to support palliative care for the next person who needs us. It was just wonderful to welcome back our supporters again this year and to see the enjoyment it brings to all those who attend and help support the event on the day.”
“A huge Pilgrims thank you to all who helped in supporting the event, including sponsors Stagecoach, Copy Shop, Mini Stores in Deal, our wonderful volunteers and staff who helped make the event possible and most importantly, each and every one of you for taking part on the day.”
Thanet doctors: Dr Gauri Jha (Westgate Surgery), Dr Rakhi Misra (Northdown Surgery), Dr Radhika Marigam (Minster Surgery), Dr Sujata Kumar (Minster Surgery) and Sneha Kumar
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of 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.
