A Thanet Pilgims Hospice nurse will cheer on her family as they take part in the 5k Colour Run from Palm Bay next weekend.
Lynda Craig, 60, a palliative specialist nurse, will be supporting family members, including her daughter, Natalie Sutton,31. Natalie also works at Thanet hospice as a health care assistant.
Natalie will be joined in the Thanet 5k Colour Run by her sister Ailsa Mace, niece Chloe Mace, aunt Carol Walkley and family friend Kendra Ryan.
Lynda has worked for Pilgrims since May 2000, first on the Thanet ward then in recent years running clinics and visiting patients in the community. Natalie started working on the ward in May 2016.
She said: “I get great satisfaction from being able to look after and care for our patients, whether that’s helping them with symptom control or providing end-of-life care on the ward.
“I’ve had several close friends who have been cared for by Pilgrims, and I consider it a great privilege to have been able to care for them in the last weeks and days of their lives.
“It has brought new facets to my friendships; to sit and chat with a friend about death and dying, and their thoughts and wishes around it, has been a highlight of my career.”
By taking on the Thanet 5k Colour Run and fundraising for local hospice care, the family hope to be able to support the valuable resources that Pilgrims offer and help people with life-limiting illness to live well in every moment.
On the day the team will wear multi-coloured tutus in keeping with the vibrant, colourful event.
Lynda said: “To me, Pilgrims means love and caring, where patients and their families can receive support to live well in the time they have left.
“Having worked for Pilgrims for more than 18 years now, I’ve seen many patients and their families helped via symptom control, benefit help, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and Therapy Centre groups; the list is endless. We want these services to continue for the people of east Kent, which is why our family are getting involved with the Thanet 5k Colour Run.”
‘Thank you’
Karen Kenward, Pilgrims’ community fundraising manager, said; “This really is a popular event which appeals to many families. It’s wonderful to see so many people coming together to raise awareness and support for our charity in such a colourful way.
“We depend on our local community to help fund the hospice and our services to help the next person who needs our care and support. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up and to those who are signing up on the day. We certainly couldn’t do it without you.”
You can sponsor Natalie and family by visiting their JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lynda-craigfamilyandfriends
Take part
Want to get colourful for Pilgrims? Visit pilgrimshospices.org/colourrun to sign up now to dash through bright paint clouds and get covered in colour in aid of local hospice care. Entry is £20 for adults and £15 for under 11s.
All participants will receive a running number, white t-shirt, funky glasses and colour sachet on the day. Extra paint sachets will be available to purchase at the event, and you’ll receive a thank you medal from Pilgrims when you cross the finish line.
Get support
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 visit click here for information on the Wellbeing and Social Programme