Candlelighters support children and young people with cancer and their families across Yorkshire, through the toughest times of their lives.
Whether it’s emotional, practical, or financial support, we’re here to provide the right help at the right time. From easing the burden of treatment to creating special moments together, we stand beside families every step of the way.
You make this possible - our supporters, volunteers, and fundraisers. Whether you give your time, take on a challenge, or donate, you’re helping to provide life-changing support.
Rohan was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2023, aged just 5 months old.
When Rohan arrived, he fit into our lives perfectly. Everything was good. Then, when he’d just turned 5 months old, I felt a couple of little lumps on the top of his head. He was really well in himself; he didn’t have a temperature or anything else going on.
Penny, mum to Rohan
He had a blood test and at around 2am, we got a call asking us to go to Leeds General Infirmary straight away. My stomach fell through the ground. That drive was the worst 35 minutes of my life, just in sheer panic. They took more blood and after about 20 minutes, they sat us down and told us that he had leukaemia. It just didn’t feel real - it was like a bad dream.
I didn’t leave hospital for the best part of 6 and a half months after that night. Everything changed straight away. I was on maternity leave from work, due to go back in a few months, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. Your mind is racing with a million questions about how you’re going to make this work practically, all while thinking, ‘Is my child going to die?’. He had four full months of chemotherapy, which luckily, he responded well to.
"While he was on treatment, he was very, very poorly, but he did handle it well. If you met him now, you’d have no idea he was ever ill. He’s physically thriving, so active and capable. He speaks with a thick Yorkshire accent, and he’s been riding a bike since he was two."
As scary as it is to end up there, that ward is probably about as brilliant as it gets for hospital living, thanks to the support Candlelighters provides. Some charities are removed from the people they support, but Candlelighters is right there with families. You can’t know what that environment is like and what help is needed until you walk through those doors. Candlelighters get it because they’re on that ward every day.
Thanks to you, children and families affected by childhood cancer could access the help and support they needed...
470 financial grants were given to families
“We had to put our lives on hold, and my mum gave up work to help care for James. It really takes its toll financially. The costs all add up, especially petrol and food. The grants from Candlelighters helped massively and without them, we would have struggled."
Emma, mum to James
8,424 hours of support on the wards strengthened care for children
"Olivia was only five and I didn’t want to leave her alone, so the offer of someone from Candlelighters to come stay and play with her to distract her was so useful. Olivia formed a bond with one member of staff from Candlelighters, and it made Olivia look forward to going to hospital because she knew she’d see her new friend and get to play games. Candlelighters staff always remembered Olivia and what she liked."
Amy, mum to Olivia
We hosted 52 events attended by 661 family members, giving families precious time together
"There were weeks and months where we couldn’t all be at home together. Candlelighters organised a cinema trip for siblings, which allowed me to have a few hours with Lucas, away from the hospital. We’ve popped over to The Square a couple of times when Jacob was allowed off the ward. Just to have half an hour away from the hospital, enjoying the peace and quiet and playing a game was lovely. All of it made a big difference."
Sarah, mum to Jacob
249 family members created loving memories on a Candlelighters holiday
"Candlelighters offered us a holiday which we took after treatment when Caleb had built some strength back up. It was one of the best holidays I’ve had in my entire life. Given the year we’d just had, to have that time away to have fun really did bring some light back into our lives. Caleb learned to swim there, and to be able to see the joy on your child’s face and make those happy memories after everything they’ve been through is so special."
Dale, mum to Caleb
50 families stayed at our home away from home, the Candlelighters Cottage
“The Candlelighters Cottage helped with the practicalities like washing clothes and Finn's teddies, which had to be done every day while he was on chemotherapy. There was bad snow at the time and Tom probably would have been stranded at home, but being in the Cottage meant he could stay close to the hospital, no matter the weather. It was a safe haven that felt like home. I don't think we can fully put into words how impactful it was for us.”
Dee and Tom, parents to Finn
Our Outreach Chemotherapy pilot concluded in 2025, having made 1,210 home visits - saving families 23,200 miles and 708 hours of travel
“It makes the whole experience much better, reduces time feeling like a cancer patient and allows you to return to normal life quicker. It also reduces disruption and time spent away from siblings. It’s honestly an incredible service.”
Parent
Supportive care
The 2023 launch of the Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre (CSCRC) was a milestone in childhood cancer research – the first dedicated centre of its kind, looking at how to improve the brutal side effects young people face throughout treatment. Not only is the centre helping to improve quality of life for children around the world, it’s helping to save lives lost due to complications from treatment.
As of 2025, the centre had...
- Analysed 19 trials involving 3,523 children to better understand how to manage sickness in young patients.
- Progressed research into a red light therapy called photobiomodulation to reduce severe ulcers along the digestive tract, brought on by chemotherapy.
- Developed a model to identify lower-risk patients who can safely spend less time in hospital.
- Helped to secure an additional £700,000 to develop a programme in Leeds which will allow children to receive chemotherapy at home.
- Met with a Patient and Parent group every three months to shape research direction, which has helped to develop two new funded projects in Newcastle and Liverpool.
Together we have made an incredible difference to children with cancer and their families. Every mile you've run, every pound you've raised or donated, and every hour you've given has brightened the lives of children and their families during the most difficult of times. Thank you so much. Read more about your impact in our impact reports.
Read our impact reports
How you help support families
Support in hospital
Our frontline team are there for families in hospital, helping bring comfort and fun to an environment that can be daunting for children and parents.
Support outside hospital
We know that leaving hospital can feel even more isolating for families. We provide community support, events and groups to reduce this isolation.
Whole family support
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family is affected. That’s why we support the whole family, including siblings, giving them the help they need along their journey.
Bereavement support
For families that are sadly bereaved, we remain here for as long as they need, providing crucial emotional support.
Lifetime support
The challenges faced by families can last a lifetime. Whenever they need us, we’ll be here and knowing this brings comfort to uncertain times.
Research
Research is essential to improve the lives of children with cancer, now and in the future. We fund research that will benefit patients in many ways, from getting earlier diagnoses to improving care.
Together, we can be there for families facing childhood cancer. Along with our amazing supporters, fundraisers, and volunteers we can bring light and hope through vital support and research.
