Store50’s Sustainable Santa wins Canterbury BID’s Christmas Window Competition 2022!
Pilgrims Hospices would like to say a huge congratulations to its Store50 shop team, who won Canterbury BID’s Christmas Window Competition in December 2022.
Becky McNicoll, Store50 Supervisor, came up with the idea for Sustainable Santa, in keeping with the shop’s focus on pre-loved and recycled items that are kind to both purses and the planet. A Santa suit was donated to the team by another Pilgrims’ shop, and Amy Eldridge, Store50 Manager, and her mum Thelma set to work dressing Santa and creating the display – using rag denim and a hot glue gun!
Amy said: “Sustainable Santa felt like the right twist on Christmas for our store; with it being our first Christmas in Canterbury, we wanted to showcase our product and creativity whilst keeping with the city’s beautiful festive displays.
“The Canterbury BID judges entered us into the competition on their behalf; we had no idea, so we were completely shocked we’d won the Judges’ Favourite prize! We are all extremely proud of this achievement, not only for the store but for my wonderful staff and volunteers who all had involvement in bringing our vision to life.”
Mandy Hawkett, Area Manager, added: “I’m so proud of how the Store50 team has worked together creatively to deliver such a valuable message about sustainability via their Christmas window display.”
The team can now proudly display their winners’ certificate in the shop, and they also won a bottle of fizz and a shopping voucher for all of their hard work.
Store50 is located at 50 St. Peter’s Street, Canterbury and will be open in the run-up to Christmas.
Thank you so much to everyone who supports Pilgrims Hospices Shops; we really appreciate it, and it makes such a difference to the patients and families we care for across east Kent.
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.
7th December 2022
A Colourful Death
Photograph: Saijal Reahal with her mother, Bina
Saijal Reahal talks us through her struggle to come to terms with having a chronically ill mother and her visualisations and notions about death, versus those of people around her.
I was nine years old on my school sports day when I discovered my mum had an incurable autoimmune disease that she had kept from me since I was born. I only found out because I was crying that she was the only mum in my friendship group who did not volunteer to participate in the parents’ sack race (horrific, I know). She wiped my tears and said, “I’ll tell you later”.
At home, I learnt that it was lupus, and not lack of love, that made her think twice before throwing her delicate bones around.
I was heartbroken. I couldn’t fathom that an illness had rattled her bones, joints and several organs, that she felt fatigued most days, that it wasn’t safe for her to deliver a baby, and that in spite of all of this, she had barely told a soul, including me.
The day after, I envisioned her funeral. I fired out questions that were only permissible to be asked by a child: “Are you going to die?” “Will I get it and also die?” “How will Papa cope without you?” His cooking skills were, after all, only average at the time.
We created an environment where it was safe to speak about death, with hope, lightness and even humour.
Saijal Reahal
Over the years, I was repeatedly reassured. Whilst some days were tough for me, as an only child, and Papa, the strong medications meant Mum could enjoy a good quality of life, her attitude made her consider it a great quality of life… and Papa got better at cooking. We created an environment where it was safe to speak about death, with hope, lightness and even humour. I asked Mum how she would want her send-off to be to the level of detail of: casket open or closed, commiseration or celebration, and which one of her lipsticks I would wear.
The day she passed away at 61, 17 years after that sports day, was still unexpected. She complained of a more intense type of pain in the morning, and within a few hours she was gone. Given the way her illness had worked in the past, with good periods and bad periods, we thought we would get a bit more notice. But, I did feel like I had braced myself for losing her from all of our conversations, post-sack race. I focused my efforts on organising the funeral to do her justice. I would stick to our traditions as British Indian Sikhs, whilst making it colourful, majestic and different, to match her vibrant character.
However, support was not easy to garner from all family and friends. Some were sceptical about doing things in such an upbeat manner. They were not comfortable with the idea of wearing colour or bright lipstick as some of my cousins and I had planned to do in honour of Mum’s style. Having the casket closed also sparked some controversy; I got advised it may be seen as “exclusionary”. And I was told I was probably in shock or denial, especially as I had not cried after the initial 10-minute shock. I came to learn that I was not grieving the traditional way.
I believe talking about life, death and all the ugly bits in between, made coping with both a chronically ill family member and bereavement, easier.
Saijal Reahal
Across much of Indian culture, when someone dies, people will arrive almost immediately at the home to pay their respects. And when I say people, I mean everyone the deceased may have ever spoken to, even if they have not seen them in decades. Here, they will pray, talk and eat. This can go on for close to 24 hours a day until the funeral. Luckily, my aunties pretty much moved in and were resident chefs and chaiwalas, catering for the masses of guests and keeping everything spotless. The support of the community was beautiful and a testament to Mum’s people-adoring persona, but nobody prepares you for the gaping hole it leaves when everyone packs up and goes the day after the funeral.
It is also the norm for people to visibly exhibit that they are mourning – that equals showing face at the house, not wearing colour, weeping and even wailing. I found this hard to come to terms with, particularly with those who who were not close to Mum. The Sikh religion does not advocate the need for public, ritualised displays of mourning and, actually, encourages releasing yourself from your interpersonal attachments and letting the deceased go with dignity and good blessings for wherever their soul travels to next. Yet, it seems to be hard for people to break centuries-old “traditions”.
Saijal on the day of her mum’s funeral
Over the course of the funeral planning to the day itself (which was exactly as splendid as I had wished for Mum), people became more relaxed and open-minded, myself included; after all, there is no right way to grieve. I think their initial discomfort stemmed from death still being a taboo in our culture, and wider society, until it happens – then everyone wants to know and be involved. I was able to talk about death and what happens next relatively freely in my household, but it can be considered morbid, inappropriate, improper.
I also reflected inwards. Perhaps my lack of tears was not so noble. I tried to show I was doing OK. I could not stand people vocalising their pity for losing my mother suddenly, especially at a younger age, when I was navigating my troublesome twenties and did not have a family of my own. My pride was reflective of Mum’s. She fought lupus for over 40 years but kept it a secret that she shared with very few people. I often encouraged her to blog about her experience from the lens of a South Asian sufferer, particularly as she had a science background and a PhD, but she refused. Neither of us, in times of physical or mental pain, wanted to appear weak and risk being gossiped about in the community. Being this vulnerable now is certainly daunting.
But, I believe talking about life, death and all the ugly bits in between, made coping with both a chronically ill family member and bereavement, easier. I have fond memories of Mum and I nattering away about her “loopy lupus”, the bruises she would get after blood tests and injections (“What’s this a map of, Mum?”) and that infamous sack race that changed the course of our mother-daughter dialogue forever.
Mum taught me that death is not the opposite of life; it is the consequence of life – of having breathed, experienced, felt and loved.
You can find more about Saijal’s story in Letters from the Grief Club, an anthology of short works from people who have been bereaved.
Saijal Reahal
Saijal Reahal is a part-time Financial Services consultant and a full-time mental health advocate who has publicly spoken and written about her experiences with depression, trauma and grieving, and how she uses fashion and performance to heal herself. In 2019, Saijal lost her mother to complications of systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease she had been suffering from for over 40 years. Through her writing, Saijal seeks to destigmatise and put some colour around chronic illness and death.
There’s much more to death than we think; what if it isn’t just an ending, but an event we can plan for? Thinking beyond the four walls of hospices and hospitals, we have the chance to approach it with confidence and plan a good death. After Wards is a collection of insights and ideas from people who can help us all to re-imagine this essential part of life, and to live well until we die.
Continue the conversation at our Time to Talk events with film screenings, poetry readings, Death Cafes and much more.
Tips for managing fatigue at Christmas
Here at Pilgrims Hospices, we know that fatigue is a difficult symptom for so many of our patients. It can be increasingly challenging for carers at Christmas too, when there are extra demands on your time.
The Occupational Therapy team offer a few tips to help you make the most of the season, and manage your energy levels.
Tips for family get-togethers
Try to limit excessive travel; where possible, meet locally
Consider meeting friends at a restaurant or other gathering place so you don’t have the added strain of hosting
If you’re doing the entertaining, ask for set-up and clean-up help
Try to take a nap before any gathering that will go into the evening hours
Don’t plan events back to back; try to think of your energy levels like a battery, give yourself days off and time to recharge
Give yourself plenty of time to get ready
If you’re spending time at someone else’s house, ask in advance if you could have a nap in the afternoon; if this isn’t possible, try to take 10 minutes out where you can complete a quick mindfulness exercise to recharge your batteries. You might like to follow some of these on our Virtual Therapy Centre YouTube channel.
Tips for meal prep
Spread the responsibilities around the family or group; have people volunteer to make a specific dish so that the host isn’t saddled with the entire meal
Prepare some dishes ahead of time, if possible
Use tools to save you time and effort e.g. mixers, a microwave, and the slow cooker
Keep a stool or extra chair in the kitchen so you can take breaks during cooking time; a higher stool can be pulled up directly to the stovetop for stirring pots, or to the sink to wash dishes
Perform prep tasks seated at table, if possible
A rotisserie chicken can be substituted for making a full turkey
Consider using pre-prepared veg and potatoes
Remember the 5 Ps
Prioritise What is most important to you; what’s going to bring you joy? What can be left or given to someone else?
Plan Think about all the tasks you need to do and plan how to spread them out, with rests built in. Be guided by your daily pattern of fatigue; if you have more energy in the morning, try to plan more tiring tasks then. Gather and organise all items before an activity (e.g. dressing), then take a short rest before you begin. Avoid activity for one hour after meals.
Pace Take regular breaks; if you stop to rest before you are exhausted, you’ll be able to continue or restart the activity and carry on for longer. Maintain a steady pace and don’t rush.
PostureSit instead of standing e.g. whilst showering, dressing, washing up. Consider small aids/equipment for use during daily tasks e.g. a perching stool, shower stool, long-handled aids like “helping hands” (grabbers). Consider using a mobility aid, such as a Zimmer frame or three-wheeled walker (ask a physiotherapist for advice).
Permission Give yourself permission to ask others for help; if you get support with routine tasks, you might have more energy for enjoyable activities.
Most importantly, give yourself permission to relax and enjoy yourself, and remember that Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect – good enough is good enough!
If you’re living with a life-limiting illness and would like advice and support with your fatigue, please ask your healthcare provider to refer you to Pilgrims’ Occupational Therapy team; click here to find out more.
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.
6th December 2022
Pilgrims festive sale exceeds expectations
The Pilgrims Hospices Canterbury Christmas retail fair exceeded all expectations, raising an incredible £2,100 for hospice care for local people. The annual November Saturday event, took place in St Peter’s Methodist Church Hall, Canterbury where more than 150 hospice supporters, and Canterbury shoppers browsed all things Christmassy to start the festive season.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along
Charlotte – Pilgrims
Charlotte Brown, Pilgrims Retail Manager said: “We had a magical day! The wonderfully generous local community supported our festive event with donations and purchases. We had the most amazing array of Christmas merchandise, including cards, fancy dress, vintage collectables, toys and so much more.
Martin Langham, Pilgrims’ elf
“A huge thank you to everyone who came along to browse and buy, your support is truly helping to make a difference to those who need Pilgrims’ care.”
Pilgrims staff and volunteers entered into the spirit with Christmas jumpers and fancy dress, and Santa joined the merriment with gifts for the children.
Mandy Hawkett, Pilgrims Retail Area Manager said: “Christmas cheer was in abundance, the generous local community managed to raise more than £2,000 with their festive shopping at our special event.
“I really want to mention my staff and team of volunteers who made this special day happen. They’ve worked so hard to bring so many festive gifts and goodies together during the past few months.
“The children loved the Santa visit, and our very own special elf, Martin Langham from Cliftonville and Birchington Pilgrims shops, kept everyone laughing all the way!”
Pilgrims Hospices shops will be open throughout east Kent approaching Christmas, all containing fabulous stock of party wear, Christmas trinkets and more. Find a list of all Pilgrims shops here.
Pilgrims wish everyone 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.
