From helping on their riverboat or at the Christmas Grotto, to painting pebbles, or being part of a cheer squad at challenge events, volunteers play a huge role in Momentum’s work.

Ray Afzal, from New Malden, Kingston upon Thames, has been volunteering for Momentum since December last year. As well as volunteering as an elf at the charity’s Christmas Grotto, he has become a well-established member of Momentum’s cheer squad, supporting our runners at both the London Landmarks Half Marathon and the TCS London Marathon. Ray said:

“I volunteer with my cousin – he is like my little brother, but because we’re both busy with work, we never got to spend much time together. Volunteering gives us the opportunity to catch up whilst also doing something really fulfilling.

People think volunteering requires committing to several hours every week, but this isn’t true – every little helps. Just because you can’t commit to something every week or every month, it doesn’t mean that you can’t support. The flexibility is there, and it means everyone can get involved.

Volunteering for Momentum has made me feel motivated and driven to make a difference and work harder, while also utilising the spare time I have to genuinely do something important.”

Bianca Effemey OBE, Founder and CEO of Momentum Children’s Charity said: “Our volunteers are simply the best and we are incredibly grateful to each and every person who gives up their time to help us. The impact volunteers have on Momentum can’t be underestimated – we simply wouldn’t be able to support our families in the ways we do without them. There are plenty of opportunities for new volunteers and we have a huge variety of roles, from fundraising to helping on our boat, or at our special Christmas events.”

Momentum Children’s Charity supports families across London, Surrey and Sussex whose children are facing cancer or a life-challenging condition. The charity partners with local hospitals to offer personally tailored support to the entire family through our family support workers, both in hospital and at home.

This year’s Volunteers’ Week will culminate in The Big Help Out from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 June. Join us making a splash by volunteering at the “Big Car Wash Event”. Hold a mini car wash fundraiser—all you need is hot soapy water and plenty of energy! Find out how you can get involved here

Notes to Editors:

Momentum Children’s Charity supports families across London, Surrey and Sussex whose children are facing cancer or a life-challenging condition. We partner with local hospitals to offer personally tailored support to the entire family through our family support workers, both in hospital and at home. Our services include counselling, creative therapies, special experiences, and respite breaks. If the unthinkable happens, and a child dies, we offer specialist bereavement support. The charity receives no government funding and is reliant entirely on voluntary support. 

Founded in 2004, Momentum Children’s Charity was started when Bianca Effemey OBE was working as a receptionist on the Paediatrics Ward at Kingston Hospital. Side effects of chemotherapy treatment can be very painful and she became aware of the impact they were having on young cancer patients. It became her mission to get white goods donated to the hospital which could be kept full of refreshments, providing some relief to children suffering with mouth ulcers caused by chemotherapy. Momentum has grown from a very small charity to now supporting around 300 children undergoing treatment and 140 bereaved families every year.

If you are interested in learning more about the work Momentum does, seeing the roles they are currently recruiting for or would like to get involved by attending an event, volunteering or making a donation please visit www.momentumcharity.org

www.momentumcharity.org Registered charity number: 1195373

For more information about Momentum and future press opportunities, please contact:  Claire Smith, PR and Communications Officer: clairesmith@momentumcharity.org  /  0208 974 5931