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.
28th March 2025
Compassionate Communities continue to grow in east Kent
Compassionate Communities is part of a growing movement that aims to promote a public health approach to death, dying, loss and grief right at the heart of local communities.
Since the launch of Pilgrims Compassionate Communities strategy in 2024, we have been working with groups and individuals in our local communities, inspiring, supporting and celebrating compassionate activities across east Kent.
Grief is a natural, normal and necessary emotional reaction when someone close to us dies, but when we are affected by grief, it can often leave us feeling overwhelmed, isolated and uncertain of the future. Most people find they are able to cope with their grief with the support they receive from family, friends and their local community. For some people, having the opportunity to meet with other bereaved people, to share their experiences and to make new connections through peer support, can be a helpful way to normalise their feelings and worries.
Here, we recognise some of the work Pilgrims Compassionate Communities has been doing to support local community groups.
Romney Marsh Community Hub Bereavement Support Group
Recognising the need for bereavement support in their local area, Romney Marsh Community Hub recently took the initiative to set up a peer-led support group for adults who are experiencing grief. As part of our Compassionate Communities work, Pilgrims were delighted to support this project by facilitating a grief awareness and compassionate conversation skills training session to staff and volunteers from the Hub. Those who attended found the session very useful – it helped them to understand how grief works, and how to use communication skills effectively to support adults who are grieving. Following the success of this first session, Pilgrims will be delivering a second session at the Hub in April.
Lympne Parish Council Bereavement Support Group
Councillor Anne Beales from Lympne Parish Council recently approached Pilgrims for advice and help in setting up a bereavement support group in their local community. As part of our Compassionate Communities work, we are excited to have this opportunity to collaborate with Anne and her team of volunteers, supporting them to develop and implement a pilot project for members of their local community, starting in April.
To find out more about Pilgrims Compassionate Communities work, or if you would like to become involved in creating a compassionate community across east Kent, please visitpilgrimshospices.org/compassionate-communities.
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.
27th March 2025
Celebrating 15 years of Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge
Back in 2010, Pilgrims Hospices launched a little bike ride across east Kent. Since then, Pilgrims Hospices Cycle Challenge has not only become a much-loved staple in the charity’s annual events calendar, but it has also become one of the South East’s largest cycle rides.
A staggering total of 14,475 riders have signed up over the years, cycling an incredible 1,024,327 miles for Pilgrims. A million miles equates to in excess of 40 trips around the equator.
The ride traditionally takes place on the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, to allow cyclists to enjoy a relaxing Monday after taking on such an impressive challenge. For 2025, the ride is taking place on Sunday 4 May 2025.
Cycle Challenge Pm April 25 6
Cycle Challenge Pm April 25 5
Cycle Challenge Pm April 25 4
Cycle Challenge Pm April 25 3
Cycle Challenge Pm April 25 2
Cycle Challenge Pm April 25 1
This year, the Fundraising team is aiming to cross the line with several remarkable milestones:
Since 2010, the annual event has raised an incredible £1.4 million for local hospice care. In 2025, we are hoping to surpass the cumulative £1.5 million total over the years.
Whilst contributing to £1.5 million in fundraising, the event has been exclusively opened to welcome 1,500 riders to the event this year, promising to make 2025 the most memorable year yet!
To celebrate the event’s 15th anniversary, a brand-new 15-mile route has been introduced to encourage even more participants to join in the fun. This route is open to individuals aged 12 and older, providing an exciting opportunity for families to cycle together, as well as catering to beginners or those seeking a shorter ride.
A special anniversary medal – each rider will receive a brand-new commemorative medal to mark their fantastic achievements on the finish line.
Starting and finishing at the University of Kent in Canterbury, Pilgrims Cycle Challenge offers a range of distances, including 30, 50, 75, 100 and 125 miles for participants aged 14 and over, in addition there is a new 15-mile route for those aged 12+.
Each distance offers an opportunity to experience Kent’s stunning countryside. Every year, more than 1,300 riders join the event to pedal for Pilgrims.
Together, the cyclists, their friends and family, the wonderful volunteers, bike marshals, mechanics and staff help to fund skilled and compassionate care for thousands of patients and their loved ones each year.
Mileage-worthy stats
In excess of £1.4 million has been raised via Cycle Challenge since 2010.
More than 14,475riders have taken part.
The total distance cycled by these riders equates to 1,024,327 miles.
Last year, more than 3,725 pieces of cake were consumed, and 4,300 cups of tea were enjoyed.
Together with 950 bananas and 1,550 rolls – all made in-house by our dedicated catering team.
Spoke-worthy quotes from Pilgrims’ riders
“Pilgrims Cycle Challenge is my bike challenge of the Year – fantastically well organised and such an inclusive event for all!”
“Fantastic day on the bike with wonderful volunteers”
“Best bike challenge for miles! Simply the best”
“A very enjoyable experience from start to end with added bonus of knowing we’re raising money for a truly worthwhile cause”
“It’s 3 days after the cycle ride and I’m still euphoric about the whole day.”
“Such a heart-warming, amazing event with awesome support”
“The 125 was deeply soul searching”
“A well organised event, which supports the cyclists, and all along knowing you are supporting the hospice.”
“It was a brilliant day, superb roots and immaculate organisation. Bring on 2025!!”
On the day entry and prices will be subject to capacity.
Register early to avoid disappointment.
The 15th Anniversary Special – 15 miles (£30)
The Circuit – 30 miles (£35)
The Classic – 50 miles (£45)
The Challenge – 75 miles (£45)
The Century – 100 miles (£55)
The Epic – 125 miles (£65)
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.
26th March 2025
Helping to shape ambulance services for people in the last year of life
Pilgrims Hospices is collaborating with a research team at the University of Southampton, the University of the West of England and South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to invite people who have had experiences of ambulance callouts to learn about their views and help shape ambulance services in the future.
The research, called the ParAid Study and funded by Marie Curie, is evaluating how different ways of delivering services influence paramedic practice and experiences of individuals at end-of-life.
Paramedics are often important to patients in the last year of life (end- of-life). We know that 999 calls are increasing for individuals and their families at end-of-life, which may be because services in the community are under pressure e.g. those provided by family doctors and community nurses.
Little wide-scale research has been carried out to understand the contribution played by paramedics in these situations and how this might be improved.
From practice, it is known that paramedics attending patients at end-of-life face complex issues, such as:
Not knowing the patient or their family
Lack of availability of patient history
Fear of doing wrong
Issues with family conflict
A lack of healthcare professionals to handover to out-of-hours, if the patient is to remain at home.
These issues can mean people are admitted to hospital when circumstances mean they could be cared for at home.
Natasha Campling
Dr Natasha Campling (Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton), who is leading the research, said:
“We have already carried out a large-scale survey of paramedics throughout England to understand their professional practice and what factors influence this, and are now conducting in-depth case studies (collecting information from patients, carers and healthcare professionals) to examine different ways of delivering services. It is important to evaluate ambulance service delivery and understand how the best parts of service provision can be incorporated into other services to improve the quality of care and support provided to patients and their families during this crucial period of time. This may prevent unnecessary hospital admissions at end-of-life, which often leads to people dying in hospital.”
If you have had an ambulance callout in recent months, are aged 18+, living in your own home, in the last year of life, or a current or bereaved carer for someone in this situation, you may be eligible to take part in a one-off interview about your experience. A £25 voucher will be offered to those who take part.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact the Research team (and see the study poster for further information):
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.
25th March 2025
Cheyenne takes on London Marathon for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of mum
In August 2024, Cheyenne Williams from Dover was delighted to receive a call offering her a place in the London Marathon. On Sunday 27 April 2025, she will take on the world-famous challenge in aid of Pilgrims Hospices, hoping to raise £1,800 for local hospice care.
Cheyenne will run in memory of her mum, Belinda (Bill) Williams, who was cared for by Pilgrims in 2002-2003, aged 37, when Cheyenne was just 6 years old.
Cheyenne with her mum, Bill
Reflecting on that time, Cheyenne said:
“I have very special memories of spending time with my mum at the hospice. The wonderful staff enabled our family to have some normality and routine during a frightening and difficult time. We were able to enjoy dinner together, my siblings and I were supported with art therapy, and we spent evenings playing in the garden with my parents. When my mum came to the end of her life, the amazing staff at Pilgrims supported her to die at home, which was her last wish. I’m fundraising for Pilgrims because I want to support people who have found themselves on a similar journey.”
The marathon will be a huge challenge for Cheyenne, but with the support of friends and family, she is taking it in her stride and planning events to boost her fundraising.
She said: “I’m incredibly lucky to be running the London Marathon for Pilgrims. When I got offered a place, I couldn’t run for even 30 seconds without wheezing and feeling nauseous. I’m also terrible at socialising and find public speaking nerve-wracking, but I’ve hosted a quiz night at my local village hall, which raised over £500! It boosted my confidence, and now I’m planning a bingo night, a bake sale and a jumble sale, and I’m also hoping to host a race night.
“My partner, Josh, has been an incredible support.
“He is so encouraging and has put up with me complaining about my sore toes or when my phone doesn’t record my run! He went and got me a running buggy so I can fit in training runs on days when I’m at home with our daughter, and he helps me to make time for myself to train (or rest, which is just as important!) on days that I’m feeling rushed off my feet or overwhelmed. My lovely family have rallied around to volunteer their time and efforts with my fundraising events and will be coming to London to cheer me on in April.
“I’m also fortunate to have a wonderful group of friends and colleagues at Woodpecker Court, who have supported me with every fundraising event I’ve planned so far. The staff and students also held a ‘Wear something blue for Pilgrims Hospices’ day, which raised £100 towards my fundraising.”
Cheyenne hopes her story will inspire others to challenge themselves and step out of their comfort zone to raise vital funds and awareness for Pilgrims.
Cheyenne’s mum, Bill
She added:
“Pilgrims will always be special to me. When I drive past a Pilgrims Hospice, or find myself wandering into one of their shops, I remember my mum and the happy times we had together. I was very young when my mum passed away, so the majority of memories I have of her are from when she stayed at Pilgrims.
“I wasn’t fully aware of the gravity of the situation we were in, but I guess that’s a testament to the staff and how they cared for us; it would have been a different story if we were cramped in a hospital cubicle every evening. I cannot imagine how scared my mum must have been, but knowing that she was looked after by an incredible team, and that she was enabled, for as long as possible, to keep hold of the parts of her life that brought her joy, brings me comfort.
“I hope that I would have made my mum proud if she was here with me today. I hope that, in supporting other families who are on the same journey we went through, I’m honouring her and keeping her memory alive. I hope that the money raised will make a difference to as many people as possible, and I’m proud knowing that I’m supporting the incredible Pilgrims staff to continue their life-changing work.
“I know that all the discomfort and challenges I’m going to face over the next few months will be nothing compared to what some people are going through at the moment, and I keep reminding myself, when I’m out in the dark and the cold and the rain, it is a privilege to be able to experience life.”
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.
21st March 2025
Pilgrims Hospices delighted to announce modernisation project at its premises in London Road, Canterbury
Pilgrims Hospices is delighted to announce that it is launching a project to modernise its premises in London Road, Canterbury.
Modernising London Road will safeguard Pilgrims Hospices’ long-term presence in the heart of Canterbury, providing quality end-of-life care as it has done for over 40 years, at a site that is much valued by the community.
This means that we will no longer be pursuing the option of a new build hospice at the Saxon Fields site in Thanington.
Despite everyone’s best efforts and intentions, external factors over a number of years have meant that we have been unable to progress the build.
Modernising our Canterbury site will ensure that the facilities for patients, families, staff and volunteers at Canterbury will meet the future needs of our community. These will be the first major works undertaken at our Canterbury site in a number of years.
Whilst this project is positive, nothing operationally is going to change in the next two years at London Road.
Modernising London Road will allow Pilgrims Hospices’ remarkable legacy to continue on the very site that our founder, Ann Robertson, established over 40 years ago. Focusing our attention on modernising our London Road site will ensure our long-term future, providing quality hospice care in the heart of Canterbury, which is one of our core principles.
Helen Bennett, Chief Executive of Pilgrims Hospices
The first step in this positive project is to prepare detailed plans for the modernisation of the site and submit a planning application to Canterbury City Council. We are appointing a specialist project team, including architects with a proven track record of hospice design.
We will involve staff and volunteers in helping to design the modernised premises over the next few months, and hope to present our proposals to our valued staff, volunteers, supporters, and to the wider public, later in the year.
It will take at least two years for us to obtain planning permission, undertake detailed design work and appoint a construction partner. Throughout this time, our services will not be impacted at all.
We are extremely grateful to The Tory Family Foundation for this significant donation. This donation will make a massive difference to supporting the work Pilgrims Hospices is already doing and what we want to achieve in the future.
Karen Warden, Chair of Pilgrims Hospices Trustees
Inpatient services will inevitably be affected during the construction period, but we will be developing plans to ensure that the impact on patients is minimised. It is important to remember that the vast majority of how we support patients takes place in the community, and this will continue without any disruption. We will support patients and families for the duration of the modernisation project, and will provide full updates throughout the project.
The modernisation project has been in part enabled by an extremely generous donation made by the Tory Family Foundation. The £4 million donation is the largest single donation ever received by Pilgrims Hospices.
We will keep everyone updated on the progress of this positive project on our website.
In the meantime, we will aim to be here for every patient, every family, every time they need us.
We would like to thank our community, who help fund our day-to-day running costs, delivering so much to so many people across east Kent.
Pilgrims Hospices have always been special in our hearts, and we are thrilled to support them in this way. We all know the pressures that hospices are facing currently, and are delighted to support one of the corner stones of the community in Canterbury. We will be very excited to see the progress made on their London Road site, and look forward to visiting the modernised premises.
James Tory, Trustee of The Tory Family Foundation
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.
