Evie’s Story

As we approach Christmas, many of us will be hoping for a better festive season than last year - most especially families like Evie's from Scarborough.

Six-year-old Evie was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at the end of August 2020. Evie’s mum Katy took Evie to the doctors with a suspected virus but ended up in an ambulance to Leeds Children’s Hospital. Strict COVID restrictions meant dad Simon was not allowed into the hospital at any point with Katy and Evie. Katy said, ‘I had to break the news to him over the phone - possibly the hardest thing I have ever had to do’.

From then on, the family of four have been split in two with hospital restrictions allowing only one parent to stay with their child at any time. The most Katy and Simon could do on switchover days was wave at each other when passing in the corridor. Since starting treatment, Evie has scarcely seen her younger sister, grandparents, friends and extended family.

Evie required a bone marrow transplant meaning she had to isolate as was vulnerable to infections, and due to complications this led to a record stay of eight solid months in hospital. During this time, Evie only saw Katy, Simon, and the hospital staff.

Your support gave Evie a magical birthday and Christmas in hospital last year.

Evie’s birthday is just a week before Christmas, and last year she spent both these special days in hospital, recovering from a third round of chemotherapy. Despite this, Katy said, ‘Candlelighters and the play team made it magical for Evie. She had a birthday disco with a bubble machine and the most wonderful presents including a beautiful princess dress. Candlelighters stepped in where I couldn’t be and made it a memorable Christmas. We are so very thankful.’ Katy was unable to spend Christmas day with Simon and Evie last year, but knowing that Candlelighters were bringing as much magic as possible to the hospital was a great comfort to her.

"At the moment, we are possibly facing another Christmas on the ward, but knowing how well we will be looked after does bring comfort at an uncertain time for our family."

Throughout diagnosis and treatment, Candlelighters have helped Evie and her family in a multitude of ways. Katy says, ‘When we were confined to the ward, Candlelighters helped with food shopping, washing, and all the day to day tasks that we take for granted when we are at home. Aside from the physical help, the Candlelighters staff are always there to lend an ear, make a cup of tea or give us 10 minutes to go and have a much-needed shower and break from ward life. Evie loves chatting to Family Support Workers Amy and Brittany, and usually gets up to mischief with them!’. Katy adds, "Our journey is not yet over, and we anticipate Candlelighters being part of our life for a while to come. They are our hospital family and will always have a special place in our hearts."

"We cannot put a value on the support they provide as it is priceless, but we will continue to support them and encourage others to do so wherever possible."

The sad truth is that not all children with cancer will make it home for Christmas, and many of the children we support, will spend a significant portion of their childhood in hospital. It is absolutely vital that we are able to support families like Evie’s not just at Christmas, but all year round, bringing light in the darkest of times. Your kind donations are what makes this happen.

If you’re in a position to support Candlelighters this Christmas we’d be incredibly grateful. Here are the ways you can support us:

Our stories

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 and their families who receive their treatment as an outpatient. 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 …
Yorkshire children’s cancer charity celebrates return of largest annual fundraiser, ‘Pink It Up week’
20-06-24Our stories • Posted by Becky Pearey
Yorkshire children’s cancer charity Candlelighters has celebrated the return of its largest annual fundraiser, ‘Pink It Up’ week.  Every year Candlelighters urges the community to get involved in pink-themed fundraising activities to support children and families affected by childhood cancer.  ‘Pink It Up’ is the charity’s flagship campaign. Since 2019 Candlelighters have encouraged people across Yorkshire to help them paint the county pink through various, pink-themed …
Candlelighters one of the top three charities in the UK for Charity Governance Award!
28-05-24Our stories • Posted by Honey Best-Barton
Candlelighters has been shortlisted as one of the top three charities in the UK for the ‘People in?Governance’ national award in the Charity Governance Awards! Annually, over 150 children in Yorkshire are diagnosed with cancer. When a child is diagnosed, lives are turned upside down instantly: not just for the child but the entire family. …

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 years’ 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 19’s 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 …