In 2004, Bianca founded Momentum from a small space in Kingston Hospital. Since then, she has committed herself wholeheartedly to helping it evolve into a charity that supports hundreds of families every year.

The roots of Momentum Children’s Charity trace back to Bianca’s time as a receptionist on the Paediatrics Ward at Kingston Hospital. After witnessing a young cancer patient struggle with painful side effects from chemotherapy, she felt compelled to make a difference. Bianca made it her mission for a fridge or freezer to be placed in each hospital isolation room which could be kept full of refreshments, providing some relief to children suffering with side effects caused by cancer treatment. John Lewis agreed to donate the freezer if Bianca set up a charity, so she did this, with the help of two Co-Founders, Alison Trigg and Jacqui Coppellotti.

At no point did Bianca envisage becoming a CEO, or Momentum developing into a well-established charity, in fact, she initially planned to close it once she had received the freezer donation. However, Bianca soon realised that Momentum wasn’t going to be a temporary charity.

Momentum has grown from a very small charity to now supporting over 2,500 individuals across 688 families in Surrey, Sussex and London.

The charity now raises more than £1million a year to deliver its services, partnering with local hospitals to offer personally tailored support through its family support workers, both in hospital and at home.

In 2023 Bianca was awarded an OBE in the King’s first Birthday Honours List, in recognition of her services to young people with life-challenging conditions after setting up Momentum and dedicating more than 19 years to the charity at that time.

Talking about her time with Momentum, Bianca said: “Momentum will forever hold a special place in my heart—not just for the work we have done, but for the extraordinary people I have had the privilege of knowing. The families who have shown such courage, the team who have given so much, the volunteers, funders, and trustees whose unwavering commitment has shaped our path—I am deeply grateful to every single person.”

Bianca continued: “As I prepare to hand the baton to the charity’s new CEO, Sarah Woods, I do so with complete confidence. Her compassion, experience, and wisdom make her the perfect person to lead the charity into its next chapter. As lifelong president, I will watch in admiration as the charity continues to grow.”

Bianca will continue to work with bereaved families, both adults and children, supporting them through funeral arrangements, and as a celebrant, drawing on the experience she’s gained over the last 21 years.

Momentum Children’s Charity has appointed Sarah Woods as their new Chief Executive Officer. With extensive experience in the charity sector and a passion for supporting children, Sarah has worked across a number of communications, fundraising and strategic roles at similar organisations.

To find out more about the work of Momentum Children’s Charity, please visit www.momentumcharity.org

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 over 2,500 individuals across 688 families in 2024/25. This includes 502 families with children in active treatment and 186 bereaved families.

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