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

Company of the Month… Yorkshire Spa Retreat!
21-12-23Our stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
We are so pleased to announce that our latest Company of the Month is Yorkshire Spa Retreat! We are delighted to announce that the fabulous Yorkshire Spa Retreat are our Company of the Month! Having joined Club Candlelighters last year and pledging to donate at least £5,000 per year for the next three years, the …
Yorkshire family of Amelie, who was diagnosed with leukaemia at two: “We didn’t know where we would be on Christmas Day”
23-11-23Our stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
Shortly before Christmas 2022, Jo and Tom Adams, from Baildon, West Yorkshire, were given the worst news for a parent: their daughter, Amelie, had been diagnosed with cancer.  After a couple of trips to the doctors, suspected tonsilitis, and a visit to the local hospital, a nurse arranged for Amelie to have some blood tests. …
Company of the Month… Howard Civil Engineering!
21-11-23Our stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
We are so pleased to announce that our latest Company of the Month is Howard Civil Engineering! This month we would like to celebrate Howard Civil Engineering as they have made some excellent fundraising efforts for Candlelighters and purchased new toys for the Play Room! In September, a courageous team from the company participated in …
Research centre launched to tackle life-threatening side-effects of childhood cancer treatments
09-11-23Our stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
Across the UK, 2,418 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer each year. Of all the children who unfortunately pass away, one in three die, not because of cancer but because of the side effects of treatment.  Although treatments are much more effective now, for children and young people, they are harsh and have terrible …
Company of the month… CHN Financial & Victoria Court Private Clients!
25-10-23Our stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
We are so pleased to announce that our latest Company of the Month is CHN Financial & Victoria Court Private Clients! CHN Financial & Victoria Court Private Clients chose Candlelighters as their Charity of the Year in November 2021 and started their fundraising early 2022. We are incredibly grateful that they chose to continue supporting …
Brandon’s Story
22-10-23Our stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
Brandon from Cottingham had never needed to be in hospital, until early 2022. What was a suspected viral infection turned out to be acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Brandon’s mum Samantha tells us their story. Samantha, Brandon’s mum, said, “We’re a family of five – myself, my husband Chris, Brandon, Elliot and our dog Ringo. We’ve …
Company of the Month… FOD Mobility!
01-08-23Our stories • Posted by Candlelighters Marketing
We are so pleased to announce that our latest Company of the Month is FOD Mobility! FOD Mobility Group voted for Candlelighters to be their Charity of the Year at the start of the year and since then, we have been so grateful for the excellent ways they’ve been involved in fundraising. Thanks to their …
Company of the Month…Caddick Group!
27-07-23Our stories • Posted by Candlelighters Marketing
We are so pleased to announce that our latest Company of the Month is Caddick Group! Caddick have been supporting our families since 2018, and in that time have raised over £100,000! This phenomenal amount has been raised through a huge variety of events, including at their annual ‘Moment In Time’ ball, a legendary event …

Your stories

Local student raises over £2,500 in brave swimming challenge for Candlelighters!
30-10-23Your stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
Rebecca Haestier, Ilkley Grammar student wanted to help raised funds for Candlelighters by swimming 20 lengths with two broken legs which are in cages.  Courageous student Rebecca Haestier who is 14 years old, decided she would like to raise money in an epic swimming challenge to give back to Candlelighters to help children and their …
Halifax Family and friends to take on Manchester Half Marathon for two-year-old Gracie-Mae!
02-08-23Your stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
A 31-strong team of family and friends will complete the race in support of Gracie-Mae McHugh and Candlelighters.  The lives of Gracie-Mae and her family were turned upside down in February when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, aged just two. Parents Helen and Danny, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, first took Gracie to hospital …