Valentine's Day fundraiser in Kingston

The Brown family were supported by Momentum when their daughter Kiera was undergoing treatment for cancer.  This will be the 19th year of the fundraiser which Ann and Jeff first ran with Kiera before she died in 2007.

Ann and Jeff will be joined by almost 50 dedicated volunteers, including a close-knit group of friends they first met through NCT while Ann was pregnant with Kiera. Remarkably, this loyal circle has been volunteering at the Kingston fundraiser on Clarence Street for 18 years.

Talking about her friendship with her NCT group, Ann said: “They have been there for Jeff and I from the very beginning – from when we first found out Kiera was unwell, through to this day. Every year without fail, they volunteer at our Valentine’s fundraiser, where one of them will dress up in the Mo the owl Momentum mascot costume, another always bakes heart-shaped cookies to sell, and one friend drives all the way from Beaconsfield to be there. They always do the final shift of the day so we can have a special dinner together afterwards, where we talk about what their kids are up to now –is important to hear how they are all getting on, and we will always raise a glass to Kiera.”

Ann continued: “Jeff and I are so grateful for their friendship and support, and it means so much that they come back to support our Valentine’s fundraiser, year after year. We remain very close, and this year, we are attending one of their children’s weddings. A group of Kiera’s friends from school also come along to volunteer and we get together with them and their families on Kiera’s birthday too.”

Talking about the Valentine’s fundraiser, Ann said: “I love doing it – we give out red heart-shaped balloons to shoppers in return for a donation to Momentum, which always brings such a wonderful buzz to the town centre. This year, Greggs are donating some of their famous ‘non-sausage, sausage rolls’ for us to give away.”

A huge thank you to Ann, Jeff, and everyone volunteering to make this event a success. Show your support by popping along to Clarence Street, just outside the Bentall Centre in Kingston this weekend, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February.

If you would like to organise your own fundraiser for Momentum, you can find out more here