Be Family

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare… Hearing those words, ‘Your child has cancer’.

That’s the moment you need someone.

Someone who cares deeply. Someone committed and determined. Someone who believes families affected by childhood cancer shouldn’t face it alone. Someone like you.

You can be family to people going through their darkest days by leaving a gift in your will to Candlelighters. Your generosity puts an arm around the shoulders of future Yorkshire families affected by childhood cancer. You’ll lift them up, comfort them, care for them.

A gift in your will can:

• Provide emotional, practical and financial support when families need it most.

• Invest in vital research to improve outcomes and lives for children with cancer.

• Be there for every family, by ensuring Candlelighters is here for future generations.

When you make or amend your will, your loved ones come first, of course. But leaving a gift in your will to Candlelighters is a way to cherish our family – by being family to children with cancer. You’ll join the special Candlelighters family of brave and caring people determined to help children and young people with cancer. And your values and compassion will shine light and hope for generations to come.

A gift in your will could be the most significant donation you ever make. And because we’re a small charity which doesn’t receive many legacy gifts, every donation counts, no matter the size.

It’s very simple to include Candlelighters as a beneficiary in your will, and we promise to spend every penny of your legacy gift wisely and carefully. For over 45 years, Candlelighters has provided essential support for families impacted by childhood cancer, and we’ll make sure your donation is used where the need is greatest.

Please, could you consider a gift in your will to Candlelighters – and be family to children with cancer in the future?

How to leave a gift in your will

Whether you have an existing will or haven’t ever made one, there are straightforward ways to leave a gift in your will to Candlelighters.

Make your will for free with our free will writing service

For supporters who don’t yet have a will, we offer a free will service – a quick and easy way to create a new will, for free. This is available through our carefully selected and fully-accredited service provider, Bequeathed. (Link: https://www.bequeathed.org/candlelighters)

Update your existing will

If you have already made a will and would like to leave a gift for Candlelighters, there are a couple of simple ways you can do this.

  • The first is to write a new will; once a new will is written, it makes any wills made by you in the past, void. In fact, most wills will state at the start that by making a will, you’re revoking any previous wills.
  • You can also amend an existing will, using something called a codicil. A codicil is a document used to change a will that has already been made. You can use a codicil to make simple additions or amendments to an existing will, such as changing the amount of a gift of money, or the addition of an executor or gift.

If you’d like to leave a gift to Candlelighters, you will need to make a note in your will of our registered charity number, which is 1045077, and our address: Candlelighters, 8 Woodhouse Square, Leeds, LS3 1AD.

Please ensure that when creating or amending a will, you seek proper legal advice.

Find out more

To learn more about how you can support future generations of children in this special way, or for any help relating to leaving a gift in your will to Candlelighters, please email [email protected] or call us for a chat on 0113 322 9283. We’d love to help in any way we can.

Our stories

1 year on… The Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre
14-11-24Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
In the years since Candlelighters was formed, survival rates for children with cancer have greatly improved. But so far, little has been done to improve the experience of living through and beyond cancer. The side effects of treatment can be traumatic, permanent, and even deadly, not to mention the practical and emotional tolls families face. …
Candlelighters named children’s charity of the year!
08-11-24Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
In October, we were overjoyed when we were chosen as children’s charity of the year at the Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards! The awards began in 2011 to recognise the region’s bravest and most courageous children and young adults as well as the charities that support them. For almost 50 years, Candlelighters has supported children and families across Yorkshire through childhood cancer. From the hospital wards, to …
Outreach play specialists – Play in Healthcare Week 2024 
22-10-24Our stories • Posted by Chloe Vickers
Last week was Play in Healthcare Week! This is an awareness week showcasing the importance of providing play to children in hospitals. Our Outreach Play Specialists, Tracy and Rachel can continue this therapeutic play for children diagnosed with cancer within their own homes. Tracy says, “I feel very privileged to work with children, young people …
We’ve been shortlisted for two awards in this year’s Connect Yorkshire Awards!
08-10-24Our stories • Posted by Chloe Vickers
We’re delighted to announce we’ve been shortlisted for the Community Impact Award at this year’s Connect Yorkshire Awards. Plus, our CEO Emily has also been individually recognised in the Inspirational Leader category! The Connect Yorkshire Business Awards take place annually and exist to recognise and celebrate the exceptional contribution made by businesses and non-profit organisations …
25 Years of Play
25-09-24Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
As a charity, we’re proud to be trailblazers in pushing for and funding new and better ways to make lives better for children with cancer. We’re especially proud of the commitment we’ve given to funding play for children. For over 25 years, we’ve funded additional play team roles in the children’s oncology department at Leeds …
Neil Shaw: Candlelighters Chemotherapy Project Nurse Specialist  
19-09-24Our stories • Posted by Chloe Vickers
For Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this year, we want to highlight the difficulties faced by children who receive their treatment as an outpatient and their families. Whilst some children have to be hospitalised for much of their treatment, there are others who are able to return home and come back into hospital regularly for treatment. …
Candlelighters offers children respite from childhood cancer with weekend residential trip
23-07-24Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
Children’s cancer charity Candlelighters hosted a weekend of fun and respite at Lineham Farm for 34 children whose siblings face a cancer diagnosis. Around 150 children in Yorkshire are diagnosed with cancer every year. A childhood cancer diagnosis devastates the entire family. It can be especially difficult for siblings to process the emotional difficulty that a cancer diagnosis causes, …
Join our fundraising groups at their summer balls!
16-07-24Our stories • Posted by Gaby Stead
We’re delighted that two of our fundraising groups will be hosting fabulous fundraising balls this August. Ilkley Candlelighters and Knaresborough Candlelighters would like to invite you to their summer balls to help raise vital funds for children and young people with cancer. Find out the details below… Ilkley Candlelighters Dance the night away and raise …
Saturdays at The Square
28-06-24Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
Candlelighters have been trialling opening our family support centre, The Square, on Saturdays to increase access to our support for our families. On Saturdays at The Square, Lucy Peel and Jess Burton, two of our Family Support Workers have provided wonderful crafts, fun activities, and food offerings. Our Sarnies and Smoothies on a Saturday have …

Your stories

Annual charity football match in memory of Peter Woodmansey raises over £3,400 for Candlelighters!
09-10-24Your stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
This year’s match has so far raised over £3,400, adding to the total raised which now exceeds £33,000! LasBootham Old Scholars took on Wiggington Grasshoppers under 19s in an exciting and close-fought match to raise funds for Candlelighters. The match was played in memory Peter Woodmansey, who sadly passed away aged just 17 in December …