In 2017 I took part in Pilgrims Hospice’s fundraising challenge of a skydive - something I thought I’d never be brave enough to do and was terrifying but, worth every penny raised. After such a horrific 2020, I thought I might try and turn it into something positive and start fundraising for my favourite charity once more. However, I didn’t know how to top a skydive until I saw that they are doing wing walks... being strapped to a plane’s wing, hundreds of feet in the air whilst it flies, will be far more terrifying and challenging than the skydive I think! 

I have two reasons as to why this charity is so close to my heart: 

1. My mum used to be a nurse at Pilgrims Hospice Margate so I personally know just how amazing and caring the team are there. They really are such angels and it is bewildering that this is all charity funded because of how important their work is. 

2. My mum passed away in 2018 of a glioblastoma (brain tumour) and her last few days were spent being cared for by her colleagues/friends. Not only did they care for her and make sure she was comfortable in her last moments, they went above and beyond for my family and I. 

They knew how important it was for us to spend every last moment with her and made us beds wherever they had space; we covered her bedroom floor and the communal tv room. We were supposed to have an afternoon tea with my mum, which we could obviously not do at that point anymore, so they made us one to have with her on the balcony! They brought us tea and coffees every hour and comforted us the whole way through. She was a friend to them but this is how they treat everyone. 

I cannot thank this charity enough so I want to do all that I can - if it means standing on the wing of a plane, hundreds of metres in the air whilst probably crying, then I’ll do it! 

Pilgrims Hospices provide specialist care to patients and families across east Kent. Their vision is a community where people with a life-limiting illness are supported and empowered, together with their family and friends, to live well in mind and body, and make the most of the time they have.

They have proudly provided skilled and compassionate care, completely free of charge, to the community of east Kent for over thirty years.

Approximately 30% of people who die in east Kent are cared for by them. They are now caring for more than 2,300 people each year - a figure that is set to climb in the years ahead as people live longer and with more complex conditions. This care is given in their three inpatient units in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford, their therapy centres or in patients’ own homes. They also provide a 24/7 telephone support service to patients and carers and offer bereavement support.

To give you an idea of the costs, £10 could pay for a patient’s meals for a day, £20 could pay for an hour of nursing care, £35 could pay for therapy sessions for patients and carers while £50 could pay for essential nursing supplies.