West Sussex woman donates support bags to Worthing Hospital

Fiona Barrett, 38 from Sompting, distributes the bags at Worthing Hospital to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Bags include a variety of items which help support patients through their treatment and help with any side effects.

These include items such as pocket tissues, lip salve, and hand cream, as well as stress balls, puzzle books, and sweets.

Fiona was inspired to set up the Strong Brave Love scheme after being diagnosed with cancer in 2016.

“I was diagnosed with cancer in December 2016, a few weeks after the birth of my second child, when I was 30 years old. Going through chemo is very hard to explain, especially the part where you are actually having it administered.

“That pink chair is one of the loneliest places even though you are surrounded by other patients, nurses and visitors.”

Fiona’s children, Benjamin and Anabelle, help to pack the bags (Image: Fiona) After finding out her cancer was stage four, Fiona spent a huge amount of time in the chemo ward and saw the effect on people around her.

“Over that time, I saw so many other people experiencing their first chemo and the range of different emotions made me feel that I wanted to help.

“I was very blessed to have received a lot of care packages from friends and family members – more things than I could use, so I distributed some into some smaller bags and asked the nurses to give them out anonymously.

“I saw one being given and the small bit of joy it brought to just one other person made me realise this is something that could really help people.”

Fiona has received support and donations from many different shops and businesses, as well as having applied to grants for funding.

Most recently, the Adur East Lions helped to donate £100 worth of items and Lions craft group, ‘The Crafties’, helped to sew bags.

Members of ‘The Crafties’ with Fiona (Image: Adur East Lions) Sonia Robinson from the Adur East Lions said: “The Adur East Lions always promote work within the community. We met with Fiona, and felt she was such a young person whose gone through a lot.”

“It’s a little way to help give a lot of relief to other people.”

She also added, “Fiona is such a sweet lady, she’s always been so grateful so humble. The work she’s doing is really from the heart.”

The Lions have since committed to supporting Fiona in the future, offering to continue sewing bags at their craft sessions.

Fiona’s children, Benjamin 10 and Anabelle 8, have also been involved, helping to pack the bags.

Anabelle taking the bags made at her Brownie group to Worthing hospital (Image: Fiona) Anabelle’s Brownie group recently ran a session where the girls could fill bags to earn their charity badge.

Since beginning the scheme, Fiona believes she has delivered more than 2,000 bags to patients.

She described the response she’s received from recipients. “The response to the bags has been overwhelming especially during covid times when visitors were not allowed in hospital and people had to face starting chemo alone.

I have had numerous emails thanking me for what I do and saying how much it means, many people have offered to help in ways either with donations of money or items and a few people have done fundraisers to help.

It is wonderful to know such a small gesture can help so much in such an uncertain and scary time.”

Fiona urged that people check themselves regularly for the signs of cancer.

The charity is always open for donations and support in sewing the bags.