An eight-year-old from Cliffsend has used her love of reading to come up with an innovative way to raise funds for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of her Nana.
St Laurence junior pupil Mia Winton has been creating mystery book parcels which she is selling for £5. Of that £1 goes to the hospice and £4 is reinvested in more supplies. So far Mia has raised more than £40 for the end of life charity.
She said: “I am selling mystery books, so you get a book, which is wrapped up with a pencil, a bookmark, sachets of tea/coffee for the adults and a friendship bracelet for kids.”
The funds are being raised in memory of Mia’s nana Judith who sadly passed away last June from cancer.
Mia’s mum Caroline said: “Mum was poorly in May 2024 and they thought it was her gallbladder. She ended up in hospital and after investigations they told us it was cancer.
“She had beaten breast cancer before but it had come back and attacked her liver. Unfortunately when we got the news there was nothing they could do.
“Mum wished to go into the hospice as she didn’t want the children/grandchildren to associate the bungalow she lived in for 40 years as the place she died.
“Unfortunately the hospice didn’t have enough beds. She was in Quex and Sandwich Bay wards {at QEQM Hospital} but Brendan from the hospice looked after mum and he was fantastic.
“At mum’s funeral we raised £802 for the hospice and we hope that they will one day be able to expand so they have more beds.
“We just want to give something back as they are hard-pushed for money and funded by donations.
“Mia is very determined and wanted to buy a bed in her Nana’s memory. She wishes there could be a second floor for even more beds.”
Pilgrims began with just two beds at the Canterbury hospice in 1982, and now offers beds to over 900 people each year across the three hospices. Each ward accommodates 12 beds. Last year £166,853 was raised to buy specialist beds to replace older beds at the hospices.
Mia’s book parcels can be ordered by joining, and then messaging, the Mia and Mousey page on facebook.
The page is overseen by Caroline.
Find the Mia and Mousey page by clicking here
