After more than two decades of dedicated service, the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a children's charity based in East Molesey is set to retire this week.

Bianca Effemey OBE, the driving force behind Momentum Children's Charity, will officially step down from her role as CEO on Friday, 30 May.

Bianca founded Momentum from a small space at Kingston Hospital in 2004.

Since then, she has committed herself to building the organisation into a well-established charity that supports hundreds of families each year.

The roots of Momentum date back to Bianca's time working as a receptionist on the hospital's paediatrics ward.

After seeing a young cancer patient suffer painful side effects from chemotherapy, she felt compelled to act. Her mission began with a simple goal—to ensure every isolation room had a fridge or freezer stocked with refreshments to offer some comfort to children undergoing treatment.

When John Lewis offered to donate the first freezer on the condition that she form a charity, Bianca did just that—working alongside co-founders Alison Trigg and Jacqui Coppellotti.

Initially, she had no intention of becoming a CEO or turning Momentum into a permanent organisation. But it quickly became clear that Momentum was here to stay.

Today, the charity supports more than 2,500 individuals across 688 families in Surrey, Sussex and London.

It raises over £1 million annually, partnering with local hospitals to offer personally tailored care and support, both on wards and in family homes, through its team of family support workers.

In 2023, Bianca was awarded an OBE in the King's first Birthday Honours List, in recognition of her outstanding services to young people with life-challenging conditions.

Reflecting on her time at 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."

The Kingston resident added: "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 working with bereaved families—both adults and children—supporting them through funeral arrangements and as a celebrant, drawing on her 21 years of experience.

Incoming CEO Sarah Woods brings extensive experience from the charity sector, having held senior roles in communications, fundraising and strategy at organisations supporting children and young people.

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