A mother and daughter embracing

The start of a new school year is a milestone moment for any family, filled with anticipation and change. For families like the Gibbs-Singh’s, who have faced the challenges of childhood cancer, it represents another important step forward after a life-changing diagnosis.

September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Raine’s mum, Cheynne, is sharing their family’s experience to help raise awareness of the challenges families face following a childhood cancer diagnosis, highlighting the support they have received from Momentum Children’s Charity.

Talking about her daughter’s cancer diagnosis, Cheynne Gibbs-Singh said: “Last year, Raine began experiencing hip pain that continued for around six weeks. At first, we though she had pulled a muscle or growing pains, but it didn’t get better and we eventually took Raine to A&E. We were initially told it was irritable hip, but her symptoms continued to get worse and eventually Raine was admitted into hospital while doctors conducted various tests, but the specialists were struggling to understand what was wrong. Initially, they suspected arthritis, before considering other conditions. An ultrasound scan showed a tumour on the adrenal gland above her left kidney and were told the devastating news that Raine had cancer.”

Cheynne continued: “We bought a lift-the-flap body book and sat down with the girls to show them where the kidneys are. We explained that Raine had a lump called cancer, and that doctors were going to use very strong medicine to try and make her better. We knew it was important to use the correct terminology, while also being mindful that her sister Ember, 9, might hear different things about cancer at school, so we took great care to explain everything in a way that was honest but still child friendly. We tried to prepare the girls for some of the big changes they might see in Raine during treatment, including the effects of medication, feeling very tired, losing her hair, and missing school. Both girls have shown incredible resilience, and I am so proud of them. During Raine’s treatment, we spent lengthy periods of time at Southampton Hospital, which could take up to three hours to drive to from where we live. At one point, when Raine was having her stem cell transplant, we spent five weeks in hospital without seeing Ember at all.”

Speaking about Raine’s returning to school to start Year Two next month, Cheynne said: “Raine’s school have been fantastic – I couldn’t fault how they have handled everything. When she was off, they made sure there were lots of photos of her displayed in the classroom and they included her name in group work, so she still felt part of daily school life. Raine’s teacher visited her in hospital and took the time to speak to the rest of the class about Raine losing her hair, so the children were prepared before seeing her again. Raine has also been able to take the class mascot to hospital appointments and journal her experiences, which her teacher then shared back with the class.”

Cheynne added: “Towards the end last term, we gradually started building up the amount of time Raine spends at school. There is still a long way to go. The effects of cancer treatment are harsh on little bodies and last long after treatment has finished. It will be worrying as she attends through the winter term as an immunocompromised child, with all the usual bugs and illnesses that go round every year. However, we are really looking forward to Raine spending more time with her friends at school and being able to do more normal things that six-year-olds get to do, as she builds up the amount of time she can attend over the course of Year Two.”

Touching on the support from Momentum Children’s Charity, Cheynne said: “Amanda, our Family Support Worker from Momentum has been amazing. She checks in on us regularly, and when we are at Worthing Hospital, she will come and find me just to give me a big hug. Amanda has also visited us at home and has taken the time to really get to know us as a family. Her support has meant so much to us during such a difficult time. We have been to Momentum’s respite cabin at Shorefield Park. When Raine became unwell, organising trips and holidays became incredibly difficult and having the cabin took away all of that pressure.”

Sarah Woods, CEO at Momentum Children’s Charity said: “Starting a new school year is a milestone for any child, but for families who have faced childhood cancer, it can represent an important moment as they look ahead to the future. I wish Raine the very best of luck as she starts Year Two in September. More than 1,900 families in the UK receive a childhood cancer diagnosis every year and this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we want families in Surrey, Sussex and London to know that we are here for them. By working closely with our hospital partners, our Family Support Workers can provide practical and emotional help for families whenever they need us.”

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 care for the emotional and mental wellbeing of every single family member, through our family support workers. Our services include counselling, creative therapies, special experiences, and respite breaks. If the unthinkable happens, and a child dies, we offer specialist bereavement support through our Momentum Echoes service. 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 2,800 individuals across 726 families in 2025/26. This includes 506 families with children in active treatment and 220 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