The Fiona Strong Memorial Fund was set up in Fiona’s legacy, to champion her strength and determination and to provide vital support to those in need in Surrey.         

Fiona Strong was a strong willed, kind and generous young woman, who was diagnosed with an exceptionally rare form of cancer in 2015 and sadly passed away in 2018. Fiona will always live in our hearts and minds and her enthusiasm for life remains infectious to this day. She will never be forgotten, and to commemorate her life, a Carol Service is held every December at St Mary’s Church, Battersea. This allows her friends, family, and the wider public to not only come together to remember her, but also contributes to raising vital funds for the Memorial Fund.

Further to the above from time to time her family and friends come together to celebrate her life and raise funds. This has been on an ad hoc basis but is essential in gathering monies for the Fund’s chosen charities. Apart from the Carol Service, other events which have been held include a day at Bocketts Farm where a memorial bench and plaque are located in the Kitchen Garden. Friends, family and visitors are invited to ponder their thoughts from the bench as they gaze across the Surrey Downs. Others have taken part in physical challenges such as cycling LEJOG, the Three Peaks Challenge and walking the entirety of the River Thames National Path, running the London marathon and the Camino de Costa Rica amongst many other worthy challenges.

Once again Christmas is upon us and with that comes the annual FSMF Christmas carol concert, which as in every year will take place at the enchanting church of St Marys Battersea on the 9th of December 2024 at 7.30pm, we invite all Fiona's family, friends, members of the congregation and public to join us on this wonderous annual occasion.

Fiona’s family worked with the Community Foundation to create the Fund, tailoring the criteria and priorities to ensure that it achieves their charitable goals which were very much to do with supporting disadvantaged youngsters whether in financial difficulty or illness/disabilities. The Fund has in the past supported such charities as the Riding for the Disabled, Look Good Feel Better, and React amongst many others.

How the Fund is changing people’s lives

In 2022, the Fund Committee decided to focus their attention on two specific charities so that the funds provided would not only fit the criteria but it would allow the FSMF to align itself in accordance with the objectives to specific charities. These are local non-profit organisations who provide support to help disadvantaged young people and or give respite care to relatives through challenging times.

To meet these aims the Fund has decided to support the following Surrey-based charities for the forthcoming years (2022-2025).

• The Surrey Young People’s Fund distributes essential funds to persons aged 16-25 who are experiencing disadvantage to enable them to gain access to training, education and employment. By supporting this Fund, even the smallest donation can make a huge impact on the young person’s development and aspirations.

• Cherry Trees is a charity providing exceptional home-from-home, specialist short-break respite visits for children and young adults aged 0-19 with a range of complex disabilities including learning, physical and sensory impairments.