Finnbar’s Force recognised by Community Hero award

Alongside our partners, Norwich City Football Club, we are delighted to introduce the first of our 2024-25 Community Heroes at the Canaries’ next Sky Bet Championship match with Sheffield United (24th August).

Back in 2017, Tristan Cork and his family established their charity Finnbar’s Force in memory of his son Finnbar, who had sadly passed away at just five years old, after a short brave battle with a rare aggressive brain tumour.

Determined to see something good happen in Finnbar’s name, the charity based in Hethersett near Norwich, has gone from strength to strength, with the aim of raising awareness of tumours in young children and funding practical and emotional help for local families living with childhood cancer.

Fosters Solicitors are proud to be supporting the charity as the firm’s 2024 Charity of the Year and are delighted to see their wonderful work shared through the club’s Community Hero initiative.

Tristan has been nominated by the charity’s Board and volunteers as their Community Hero for all his hard work in driving the charity forward to where it is now – their most recent success being the opening of a family support centre, ‘The Den’ in Eaton, where local families can access support.

“Being nominated as a Community Hero for Finnbar’s Force is a truly humbling honour, especially being a lifelong Norwich City supporter,” said Tristan.

“Finnbar loved the Canaries, and I have countless happy memories of bringing him to Carrow Road from a young age. He would be outside playing football almost every day and would always be wearing one of his Norwich kits. He would celebrate every goal he scored with the ‘aeroplane’ celebration, no matter whether it was in the garden or on a football pitch! Cameron Jerome paid a touching tribute to him by celebrating in the same way when he scored against Cardiff in 2016, on what would have been Finnbar’s 6th Birthday, just a month after he passed away. I will remember that moment for the rest of my life.”

He added: “Finnbar’s incredible bravery and resilience in the face of his illness inspired me to create a charity that would make a difference in the lives of other children battling childhood cancer.  

 “I am so proud of everything that we have achieved with the charity so far. It hasn’t been easy – the emotional burden is considerable and there have been a series of challenges to overcome, such as the Covid pandemic, but we have fought on despite these, just as Finnbar did.

 “From the early days of forming Finnbar’s Force to our recent achievements, it’s been a journey of immense growth and impact. The Den, our new family support centre in Norwich, is a testament to our commitment to providing comprehensive support to families facing this devastating diagnosis. It’s a space where families can find solace, connect with others, and access vital resources. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment that fosters a sense of community and belonging, just as the Norfolk community has always supported us.”

Tristan and his family will be attending the match, please give them a warm Carrow Road welcome when they are introduced at half-time.

For more information about the charity and their Family Adventure Day on the 8^th September and their Little Fox Ball on the 5^th April, please visit finnbarsforce.org

Since 2019, Fosters Solicitors have joined our partners Norwich City Football Club in highlighting the great work of local individuals and organisations in our community.

Every month during the football season, a ‘Community Hero’ is chosen for a selected matchday – providing an opportunity to showcase that person(s) or initiatives selfless work or important community campaign.

Previous Community Heroes have included young carers, veterans, equality campaigners, charity fundraisers and their beneficiaries.

 Would you like to nominate a Community Hero this season? Please go to canaries.co.uk/club/heroes to tell us all about them!