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.

11/06/2026

Happy Pride from Candlelighters! 🌈💚🌟

We've been celebrating at the hospital and having plenty of fun with colourful decorations, face paint, and of course some delicious cupcakes that went down a treat! ✨

10/06/2026

💭“Before I had my chemotherapy at home, I had to go into hospital three times a month. I missed so much school and got far behind and my mum had to miss work.” - Isla, aged 13.

Isla is one of many children and young people across Yorkshire, now able to receive their chemotherapy at home, known as ‘in-home bolus chemotherapy’. For eligible patients, this means choosing to have their chemotherapy in the comfort of their own home, rather than travelling to hospital.

“When my in-home chemotherapy nurse Neil is here, it’s just a five minute ‘push’ dose of chemo medication. Neil has made my life so much easier in so many ways. I have started going back to school, dancing, and seeing my friends. I am starting to finally feel normal for once.” 💚

Initially developed during the pandemic, Candlelighters funded a two-year pilot of the in-home chemotherapy service at Leeds Children's Hospital. Following the huge success of the trial, the service will now be offered permanently by the hospital, providing care closer to home for children and young people with cancer across Yorkshire. We are incredibly proud to have enabled this first of its kind service to allow care to be given more flexibly, making a huge difference for children and their families.

Many families felt school attendance improved as a result, as treatment could be co-ordinated around the school day, parents could also continue working, and children felt less anxious receiving their treatment at home.

Providing this vital service saved families from travelling over 9,000 miles as well as almost 300 hours of travel time in total to the hospital each year, easing the burden on so many families during an already difficult time.

Isla’s dad, Sean, says “The positive impact the in-home chemotherapy service has had on our family cannot be overstated.”

For 50 years, Candlelighters has been driving change to improve care and support for children with cancer and their families across Yorkshire. From funding vital research to supporting innovative NHS services, we have remained committed to bringing light and hope to every family affected by childhood cancer.

None of this would be possible without our incredible supporters. Thank you for helping us continue making a difference.

👉 Read more about the in-home chemotherapy service here: https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/candlelighters-funding-helps-bring-in-home-chemotherapy-service-to-children-and-families-across-yorkshire/

08/06/2026

☀️ Sibling residential! ☀️

We recently took our Super Sibs away on our annual sibling residential in York, and we had the best time!

From t-shirt decorating to archery, a Nerf battle, games and crafts, and the highly anticipated return of the Candlelighters Talent Show, the weekend was filled with lots of smiles and laughter! 🎤✨

These weekends away are a special chance for siblings to enjoy themselves, make lots of fun memories and spend time with other children who understand what they’ve been or are going through in a supportive environment. 💚

Thank you so much to everyone who supports Candlelighters. Your generosity and kindness are what make weekends like this possible for the children and families we support. 💫

07/06/2026

💕

Today, we’re saying a big thank you to Team Eva!

In January 2025, Eva was diagnosed with leukaemia and has since faced long stays in hospital and intensive treatments, including nearly 100 days at Leeds General Infirmary. But throughout it all, Eva has continued to be a shining light to everyone around her, sharing her smile and laughter, and her dad, Simon, says she has even inspired her friends and family to raise money in support of Candlelighters. 🌟

Team Eva was formed in April 2026 by Eva’s mum, Antonia, and dad, Simon, after Eva and the family began receiving support from Candlelighters during Eva’s treatment. 💚

Team Eva has been supported by her grandparents, brother Rocco and lots of friends and family! Friends of Eva’s ran a mile a day with Eva, raising an incredible £4,000, and Team Eva have lots of fundraising challenges and activities planned, including her brother Rocco taking on Junior Warrior soon with a team of friends. 👟

Eva was also recently awarded the ‘Child of Courage’ Award at the Your Harrogate Local Hero Awards, for her remarkable courage, positivity, resilience and ability to inspire others - and we couldn’t agree more! 💫

Thank you so much to all of Team Eva and everyone who has supported their fundraising and helped to support Candlelighters and the work we do! 🩷

05/06/2026

Pink It Up(date!) 🩷🌟💗

Our Family Support Team have brought lots of pink-themed activities this week, and how better to celebrate the week than with a Pink It Up party.🥳

From t-shirt decorating to carnival minigames and a 50th pinata for Candlelighters’ special 50th anniversary year - we’re having so much fun! 🙌

As well as being a great opportunity to raise funds and awareness for support services, Pink It Up is all about creating fun, happy moments for children and young people with cancer and their families. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible by getting involved. 💗

04/06/2026

It was our turn for some Pink It Up fun today with our very own Twist and Stick challenge! 🩷

Staff lined up under balloons and answered Candlelighters-themed questions, about everything from Champ to our 50th anniversary! The fastest to answer correctly got to stick with their balloon, or twist with someone else who would face the fate of that balloon!! 🎈

From confetti, to beans or custard, the team braved the mess as part of our annual pink fundraiser Pink It Up, a week to help raise vital funds and awareness for children and families affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire. 🌟

Thank you so much to everyone that’s been getting involved and supporting Pink It Up. It's you who helps create these special moments for families and it is so appreciated. 💗

03/06/2026

Pink Pedal Power! ⚡🩷

Today, we carried on the Pink It Up week fundraising fun with Pink Pedal Power! We were joined by staff, families and supporters outside The Square on two static bikes as they cycled throughout the day to help raise vital funds for children and families facing childhood cancer.

We didn’t let the weather stop us, and had a fantastic day coming together to fundraise and cheer each of the fantastic cyclists on! 🚴🌟

Thank you so much to everyone who stepped up to the bike, showed their support and donated today. We can’t wait to share more Pink It Up action from our supporters, staff and families throughout the rest of the week.🙌

If you’d like to support their incredible efforts, you can still do so, via the link https://candlelighters.enthuse.com/pf/pink-pedal-power-2026?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnjS1fgndZBQCLMh60dAfLOB5hzxF9D0StDHI8aJsiIRa4RJs5JjQ1Vg36bqQ_aem_-6df6Hvy2OdTWd-o2zkVwg&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv6_a1dennhbodkshs

02/06/2026

THANK YOU! 👏

This week is Volunteers Week, and we’d like to say a huge thank you to our incredible team of Candlelighters volunteers. 🙌

Our volunteers are a vital part of what we do, and everyone who has given their time to support Candlelighters has helped to make a difference to children and families across Yorkshire.

From welcoming families to The Square, our family support centre, or cheering on supporters at our challenge events, to representing Candlelighters as an ambassador and so much more, our volunteers are a vital part of what we do. You help us to bring light and hope to families during the darkest of times. 💚

If you’d like to get involved and help make a difference to families, check out our latest volunteering opportunities here: https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/.

01/06/2026

It’s PINK IT UP 2026!🩷💞💗

We’re so excited for a whole week of fun, fundraising and pink, all to make a difference to children and families across Yorkshire affected by childhood cancer.

We kicked off Pink It Up week by delivering a box of pink goodies to each ward, with a special challenge for all staff, families, and patients to complete together by Thursday! 👀 We also enjoyed a pink duck hunt across the ward which everyone loved getting involved with. 🦆

This week, families, schools, businesses, and communities are coming together to Pink It Up! We’re so grateful for the creativity and enthusiasm of our brilliant supporters, and we can’t wait to showcase the wonderful ways everyone is getting involved.

So, make sure you send a photo or video of your best pink fundraiser to [email protected] or tag us on social media this week to be in with your chance of winning one of our competitions! 🤞

Visit: https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/how-you-can-help/fundraise/pink-it-up/ for more information!

Let’s turn Yorkshire pink together 🙌 🩷

31/05/2026

💚🤸

This week, we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in our Move Every Day in May virtual challenge!

Thank you so much to everyone who took part and got moving throughout the month to raise over £3,000 to support children and families affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire.

It was so brilliant to see how everyone took part in the challenge in their own way, from getting their steps in, to holding different yoga poses throughout the month, heading to the gym or setting targets like an hour of exercise each day! 👟🚴🧘

However you got involved, we’re so grateful for your commitment, dedication and support.💫

Feeling inspired? Join us in September for our 150 Miles in September challenge during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Drop us a message to be the first to hear when registration goes live! 🎗️💛

Address

8 Woodhouse Square
Leeds
LS31AD

Telephone

+441138878333

Website

http://candlelighters.org.uk/

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