Candlelighters

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Candlelighters provides essential support to children with cancer and their families in Yorkshire.

Candlelighters is a charity bringing light and hope to families facing childhood cancer across Yorkshire, providing emotional, practical and financial support from diagnosis and for as long as is needed, as well as funding research into childhood cancers.

11/10/2026

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This week, we’d like to say a big thank you to York City FC! We are absolutely delighted that York City are supporting Candlelighters as one of their charity partners for the 2026/27 season.

In January this year, York City’s under-16s Captain, Harry, was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Having been a player at his local club since his youth, the community came together to support Harry and his family.

After Harry’s diagnosis, the family began fundraising for Candelighters, setting up Team Harry. So far, they have raised over £38,000 through events like Golf Days, Total Warrior, Colour Runs, support from York City and much more. 👏

Steve Dorey, Development & Club Welfare Officer at York City Football Club, said, “We are so pleased to be working with Candlelighters for the 2026/27 season. The support that they have given our Youth Team player, Harry Rowntree, and his family has been incredible, and we hope to be able to shine a light on their incredible work throughout the season.”

Partnerships like these are a great opportunity to help raise awareness of childhood cancer and the support Candlelighters offers to families across Yorkshire.

Tom Robertshaw, our Head of Fundraising, said, "We're absolutely delighted that York City Football Club have chosen to support children and families across Yorkshire affected by childhood cancer through this partnership with Candlelighters.

It's entirely thanks to support from the likes of York City and their fans that we're able to provide vital emotional, practical and financial support to families at the most challenging times. We look forward to the season ahead and continuing to make a difference to children and families across Yorkshire."

Thank you so much to York City FC, Team Harry and everyone who supports them. Together, we can bring light and hope to families across Yorkshire and beyond. 🙌

10/10/2026

It’s World Mental Health Day! ☀️

Yesterday, some of our Family Support team handed out wellbeing bags and personalised messages, written on canvases also decorated by a patient, to teenagers and young adults. We also handed out some wellbeing packs for the parents too.😊

A small gesture to spread some positivity and remind the young people we support, that their wellbeing matters and we’re here for them. 💚

And a reminder to all the families we support - we are always here. If you find yourself needing support now or any time in the future, please get in touch with us.

09/10/2026

🎁 Double your donation! 🎁

The Big Give Christmas Challenge is back! From the 1st - 8th December your donation to Candlelighters can be doubled, meaning your donation to support families affected by childhood cancer will have twice the impact. ❄️

Only donations made directly through the Big Give website are able to be doubled. We’ll be sharing the link once it’s live across our channels, so make sure to keep an eye out!

Every penny raised will help make a huge difference to children and young people with cancer during Christmas and beyond. 💚

07/10/2026

It’s Play in Healthcare Week! 💚

Play can be an important part of a family’s childhood cancer journey, helping patients to navigate overwhelming and confusing medical treatments. Play can be a welcome distraction and help create a sense of normality at an incredibly difficult time.

Throughout our 50-year history, we’ve been ambassadors of play for children and young people with cancer, understanding the importance of supporting play within the hospital and our team.

Natalie, our Head of Family Support, said: “We truly believe in the importance of play at Candlelighters, and for over three decades we have invested in play support both in and outside the hospital. From investing in materials to funding specialist roles, and helping to keep children active and moving through play, we’re proud to champion the importance of play in healthcare.”

For over 30 years we funded play team roles in the children’s Haematology and Oncology department at Leeds Children’s Hospital, and today still work closely with the Play Team when there’s a recognised need for specialist intervention.

We’re also proud to fund the Candlelighters Outreach Play Specialist service. For over 10 years, Tracy has been delivering therapeutic play to patients and families in their homes, helping them to understand their diagnoses, cope with anxiety and supporting families who have sadly received a palliative diagnosis.

Through our Family Support Workers, play is also an important way to build relationships with families and children, and of course, to bring moments of fun and normality whenever we can.

This is all possible thanks to our incredible community of supporters! Thank you for helping us to bring light and hope to families for over 50 years. 🌟

If you’d like to read more, visit: https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/play-in-healthcare-week-2026/

06/10/2026

💭 “He was in Year 6 at the time, but after starting treatment in October, he never went back to primary school. He was just too poorly in between all his treatments, so he missed everything, all the trips and end-of-year stuff.” - Sarah, mum to Jacob

Jacob was first found to have a tumour in the back of his chest in August 2024. After being checked at the doctor's for swelling in his neck, he returned home with antibiotics, but later that night in bed was struggling to breathe. Dad, Matt, took Jacob to Dewsbury A&E, where they discovered the mass.

Doctors realised Jacob had a type of blood cancer and arranged an ambulance to take the family to Leeds Children’s Hospital. Because of the size of the tumour, they had started Jacob on steroids right away.

Sarah says, “They had to keep him upright for days because it was too dangerous for him to lie down. By the time they did the biopsy, steroids had killed all the cells, which meant he was out of danger, but we had to wait for it to grow back or come back in his blood. You just had it hanging over you because no one knew how long it would take to come back. It is quite quickly recurring, but every child is different. You couldn’t really make any future plans.”

On the 4th October, Jacob received his diagnosis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Sarah continues, “He began treatment, and that’s when it really got horrible. He was really ill, not through the cancer but through the treatment. Each time we went into a new phase of treatment, he got worse and worse. The chemo affected his stomach and he was violently ill. He lost about a third of his body weight.

He has special educational needs, so in and amongst everything else, I was having to try and find a school that would be able to take him for Year 7, without knowing what condition he would be in at that point. We did manage to find somewhere but it was a really stressful time.

Practically, it was like your life had just stopped. From that moment we were waiting for the ambulance from Dewsbury, everything became about treatment. Even when you’re not in hospital, you’re preparing to visit clinic, or you’re getting a call from someone, or arranging the district nurses. It’s all-encompassing.”

In July 2025, Jacob went onto his maintenance treatment. He was still pretty poorly for the first couple of months, and he continues to have problems, but is doing a lot more now.”

Throughout their journey, the family were supported by Candlelighters, including our Family Support Workers in hospital, visiting The Square, with financial grants, providing food in hospital, and a cinema trip for Sarah and Jacob’s brother, Lucas.

Sarah says, “All of it made a big difference. You never think it’s going to be you, until it is. Your life changes in an instant. I would urge anyone to support Candlelighters because you just do not know what’s around the corner. You never want to need them, but when you do, you’re so grateful they’re there, thanks to people donating and fundraising.”

Thank you so much to Sarah for sharing her family’s story, and to everyone who makes it possible to continue providing vital support for children and families across Yorkshire. 💚

Read more of Sarah and Jacob’s story here: https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/jacobs-story/

Help us be there for families like Jacob’s for many years to come by considering leaving a gift in your will. We know your loved ones will always come first, but if you can leave a gift of any size to Candlelighters, your support will ensure that families can receive the dedicated emotional, practical and financial support they need.

05/10/2026

In 2023, we launched The Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre at the University of York, a world-leading centre dedicated to improving the experience of children living through and beyond cancer.

While advances in research have made progress in understanding and treating childhood cancers, the impact on children’s bodies can still be severe, with many suffering from horrible side effects.

The Centre is working to discover how paediatric oncologists can better treat and reduce the side effects of childhood cancer and improve the experience of living through and beyond cancer.

Join Professor Bob Phillips, Director of the Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre, for a webinar to see how research here is transforming children's experience of cancer treatment, from light therapy that eases painful mouth ulcers to chemotherapy children can take home in a backpack instead of a hospital ward.

🗓️ Thursday 29th October, 7pm
🖥️ Online event

Reserve your free place today: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-survival-how-childrens-cancer-care-is-changing-tickets-2000411244883?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/10/2026

🎗️👟🚲🏊‍♀️

Today, we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the 150 Miles in September challenge!

For Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, individuals, families, patients, and businesses took on the challenge of completing one mile for every child diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire each year. They walked, swam, ran, cycled and conquered all the elements to fundraise for children and young people affected by childhood cancer.

Currently, the fundraising total stands at over £20,000 thanks to your fantastic fundraising! 👏This incredible amount could fund over 1,250 hours of hours of vital support from our Family Support Workers, giving emotional and practical support to families.

We’re so grateful to each and every one of you for your dedication and support. Every mile covered in this challenge has helped to make a difference to a family affected by childhood cancer. 💛

02/10/2026

We’re incredibly proud to have been shortlisted for Team of the Year – Public or Third Sector, at the 2026 Yorkshire Excellence in HR Awards! 🎉

Our HR team plays a key role in creating a supportive, inclusive and values-led workplace where everyone can thrive, and we can continue to provide the best support to families affected by childhood cancer. 💚

Last night, Lucy, our Chief Operating Officer and Corinne, our HR Manager, attended the awards, and while we may not have won, we’re so proud to have been nominated alongside other brilliant organisations across the region. 👏

01/10/2026

50km for 50 years… they did it! 🥳👏

After 11 hours of walking, Julie and the team completed their 50km challenge, celebrating 50 years of Candlelighters and support for families affected by childhood cancer. 💚

Throughout the walk, they followed Candlelighters’ journey over the last five decades, with each location marking an important chapter in the development of cancer care services for children and young people across Yorkshire.

From where it all began at Seacroft Hospital, they headed to the former Cookridge Hospital site where radiotherapy services were delivered until 2007. From there, onto St James’ University Hospital, where inpatient and outpatient services came together in the 1990s before heading to Leeds General Infirmary where young people have been receiving treatment since 2010. 🏥

50km later, and still with smiles on their faces, they arrived at their final destination, our family support centre, The Square, where they were joined by Leeds Children's Hospital colleagues, patients and families. 😊

Julie said: “50km, 11 hours, and countless memories made along the way- we did it!

As we walked through key locations in Leeds that have shaped the story of children's cancer care, we reflected on the incredible 50-year journey of Candlelighters and the NHS working side by side to support children, young people and families across Yorkshire.

It was a day filled with friendship, laughter, nostalgia and reflection. We celebrated how far we've come as research, science and treatments have advanced, and how services and support have continually evolved to meet the changing needs of families.

The welcome waiting for us at the finish line captured perfectly why we do what we do.

Thank you to everyone who walked, cheered, supported and donated. Here's to 50 years of making a difference, and to the families at the heart of everything we do.”

Thank you so much, Julie and everyone who joined her. There’s no better way to celebrate 50 years of Candlelighters than medical staff, Candlelighters staff and trustees coming together and helping to raise over £2,000 for children and young people with cancer. Every kilometre covered was for the children, young people and their families who have faced their own journey through childhood cancer. 💚

30/09/2026

CCAM 2026 🎗️

Throughout September, we’ve been going gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, using our voice to help raise awareness of the impacts of childhood cancer and advocate for better care and support for children and young people with cancer.

And they’ve been getting involved over at the hospital too! From a Champ hunt to pebble decorating and the ‘go gold duck hunt’, we’ve been finding ways to get involved in the international campaign, bringing some joy to the families we support and a welcome distraction to hospital life. 🦆

We rounded out the month with a gold-themed quiz in the Pavilion and a special CCAM awards ceremony for the patients. 🏆

However you got involved, thank you so much to everyone who has shown their support during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 💛

Address

8 Woodhouse Square
Leeds
LS31AD

Telephone

+441138878333

Website

http://candlelighters.org.uk/

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