Pilgrims Hospices popular ladies cycle will return on Sunday 24 June riding from a brand-new venue, The Independent Pedaler in Bridge near Canterbury.
Last year the Divas on Wheels charity cycle ride raised over £19,000. Pilgrims fundraising team hope even more cyclists will take part this year and raise more vital funds to provide important services for patients, families and friends who require specialist care and support.
Lydia Todd, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Officer, said: “I’m very excited about this event, the route is absolutely beautiful with lots of support along the way and plenty of pampering afterwards back at the Divas Village.
“You can even visit The Independent Pedaler for a pre-ride safety check.”
Cyclists can choose to ride either a 25-mile or 50-mile route through the countryside. If you’re new to cycling have no fear, dozens of Pilgrims Bike Heroes will join you, leading small groups or offering roadside repairs to anyone who needs it.
This year’s Divas on Wheels ride is encouraging riders on electric bikes to join the 100s of riders already registered for this female friendly ride. Sarah Treadwell and Elaine Wickham from E-Flow Cycles, electric bicycles specialists in Wealden Forest, are generously sponsoring the event for the second year, along with Pink Lady Apples and The Independent Pedaler, a cycling café that is providing the new venue for registration, start and finish and will be the home of the popular Divas Village for cyclists to relax and enjoy some pampering after the ride.
Sarah said: “We have around 30 riders from the E-Flow Riders Club who will be taking part with the regular cycles and hope for even more to join us. We’ve been selling electric bikes for two years now and have customers who have returned to cycling after years out of the saddle. It’s not an excuse for an easy ride, it’s an opportunity to take part in activities that perhaps you’ve not felt capable of previously. You can pick the level of effort you wish to put in and or just help with some extra pedal power on the rises.
“It’s brilliant for commuting; we also promote e-cycling to those who are less mobile. From post-op knee and hip rehab, to weight, health, age and fitness limitations, the electric assistance makes exercise achievable for everyone. E-bikes have revolutionised the way people think about cycling.”
Sarah and Elaine will also be part of the Pilgrims Bike Heroes team supporting riders along the journey.
Sarah and Elaine from E-Flow Cycles
The pair have raised over £6,000 for Pilgrims Hospices care over the year, which has included a cost to cost ride. “I feel strongly about supporting the care that Pilgrims provide; my nan was cared for in the Canterbury hospice some years ago. Our family have first-hand experience of the wonderful treatment she received as well as the aftercare my mum received at a point when she was most fragile and needed their support.
I feel strongly about supporting the care that Pilgrims provide.
Sarah
Last October, the E-Flow Cycles Club e-biked across the country, from Whitehaven to Tynemouth, through the Lake District and Pennines. They also climbed and descended Snowdon and visited various bike parks across the country. This year they are riding in Morzine, Les Gets and Les Arcs in the Alps.
Be part of this Pilgrims Hospices cycling event and help raise money for the next family who needs our care. Together, you can make a difference.
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.
23rd May 2018
Sixth annual Pilgrims It’s a Knockout is a great success
Hundreds of supporters enjoyed Pilgrims Hospices It’s a Knockout event at Government Acre, Ramsgate on Sunday 20 May. The Thanet hospice has now run this important fundraising event for six years, generating vital funds for hospice care and an opportunity for friends, families and local businesses to take on some crazy antics and compete for the winner’s trophy.
This year 16 teams entered, including last year’s winners the Stormloopers, with everyone taking on bouncy obstacle courses and slippery slides. Each team could play their joker cards to win extra points. The laughter was infectious as teams competed to win while supporting the much-loved local charity.
Teams from around the area took part including SPH Charity Team (Spencer Private Hospitals) from Margate; each team member has known someone who has been supported by Pilgrims.
Toni Topping from the It Is What It Is team from Deal said: “We took part in It’s a Knockout in 2017; today we’re doing it in memory of our friend Sean Hammond who was our team mascot last year. He was supported by Pilgrims at home.”
Kieran Wynne from team Gone with the Winded (Ivor Thomas Amusements) from Ramsgate said: “We do a lot of charity work as a company and It’s a Knockout is a great team builder.”
The Team That Cannot Wait
Katy's Kittens and Bunny's Honeys
Stormloopers
Gone With the Winded (Ivor Thomas Amusements)
It Is What It Is
Stone Bay Slumber Party
Randolphinis
Andrew & Co.
Chuffer Nut
80s Stone Bay Crew
Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager, said: “This really is a fun event with many supporters returning each year.
“I’d like to thank everyone who attended – those who took part, sponsored their team members, spectated on the day to cheer their teams on, volunteered to help run our fun stalls, our amazing event sponsors Stagecoach and those who made or dressed up as mascots to help their teams double points.
“Your wonderful support will enable us to continue providing care for all who need it, both in the hospice and at home. Last year It’s a Knockout raised an incredible £16,109. Early indications show that this year’s event has raised £11,326 with further sponsorship still to come in.”
Karen added; “It costs just over £6,800 a day to run each of our three hospices inpatient units, so community support from events like this makes a huge difference to our charity.
We took part in It’s a Knockout in 2017; today we’re doing it in memory of our friend Sean Hammond who was our team mascot last year. He was supported by Pilgrims at home.
Toni Topping, Team: It Is What It Is
The winning team were event sponsors Stagecoach, whose team the Stormloopers completed a hat trick by winning this event for the third year in a row. The runners up were team It Is What It Is; last place went to The Team That Cannot Wait, who received wooden spoons.
“Whatever place they came, everyone who supported the event received a medal from Pilgrims Hospices as huge thank for taking part. You are all deserving winners to us; thank you for a wonderful day.”
Chris Ray and Gary Warren from the Stormloopers team said: “Pilgrims is a charity close to our hearts. We’ve won It’s a Knockout for the past two years; today we’ve completed the hat trick!”
Teams from further afield included Chuffer Nut from Ashford and Canterbury. Team member Zoe Tyzack said: “It’s a very worthy cause that we absolutely adore.”
Team member and mascot Diane Smith from Stone Bay Slumber Party from Broadstairs said: “It was so much fun last year that we wanted to take part again and raise money for a good cause.”
It was so much fun last year that we wanted to take part again and raise money for a good cause.
Diane Smith, Team: Stone Bay Slumber Party
Pete Bishop, a regular Pilgrims supporter and team member of Gone With the Winded, said: “My wife, Tatum, was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet and support by the Hospice at Home team. We’ve already raised more than £1,300 for Pilgrims this year by holding our annual quiz for the hospice.”
Alex Chapman-King, team member of Katy’s Kittens from Thanet, said: “We’re taking part in memory of my wife, Katy, who was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet earlier this year. We’ve already raised £5,000 for Cancer Research UK and will be taking on Tough Mudder, a parachute jump and the Canterbury Half Marathon to raise even more money for Pilgrims Hospices.”
If you or someone you know is coping with a life limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or find out more about our Wellbeing and Social Programme.
