The Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre

Did you know that of all children who die with cancer, 1 in 3 will die not because of the cancer, but because of the side effects of treatment? Worse still, research into reducing these side effects for children is under-resourced, sparse, and inadequate.

Amazing progress has been made in understanding and treating childhood cancers. Today, around 80% of children or young people diagnosed with cancer survive.

But despite advances in curative medicine, little has been done to improve the experience of living through and beyond cancer. Children often receive cancer treatments designed for adults and the impact on their smaller bodies can be severe. They suffer horrible side effects which can be traumatic, permanent, and even deadly.

Meet Ralph

Six-year-old Ralph has T-cell lymphoma.

The treatment he’s receiving is incredibly effective; it began immediately and he is responding well to it. But it’s shocking to see what the side effects are doing to his little body...

The chemotherapy is aggressive and makes him sick. It decays his teeth and five have to be removed. His skin is sore and painful to touch. His immune system is severely suppressed, and he develops sepsis. Ralph’s mum, Cleo says, “No one can prepare you for the side effects. He couldn’t walk, he swelled up from steroids, he would scream in agony.

If the side effects of Ralph’s treatment aren’t controlled properly, there’s even a risk he could die. We urgently need better ways to care for Ralph that will limit his side effects, reduce his suffering, and improve his quality of life and chance of survival.

The care Ralph needs doesn’t exist yet – but it will.

Introducing the Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre

Developing effective, kinder care is the best and fastest way to improve the lives of children with cancer and increase their chances of survival. The research that will help us do this is called supportive care.


What is Supportive Care?

Supportive care refers to everything except the treatment of the cancer itself. Supportive care includes preventing side effects of treatment, managing pain and reducing infection. It’s the care that gives children as full a life as possible.


We know research makes a difference. After all, because of research, the five-year survival rate for children’s cancers increased from 73% to 86% between 1997 and 2016. Now, we’re establishing the first Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre (CSCRC) at the University of York to develop effective, kinder care for young people with cancer, which will save lives, reduce suffering, and bring hope.

The CSCRC will enable the world’s leading supportive care experts to carry out high-quality research. It will invest in future supportive care specialists. And it will save lives, reduce suffering and bring hope to young people with cancer – not just in Yorkshire, but around the world.

As part of our commitment to childhood cancer research, we’ve worked closely with experts to identify the huge impact that can be made through improved supportive care. We believe our Research Centre can change the landscape of cancer care and transform what it means to undergo cancer treatment as a child.

Here, a team of experts will conduct high-value research which will rapidly advance the care of children and young people with cancer. Creating the Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre is a five-year project which will cost just under £1m. Together, we can make it a reality.

In the last 25 years alone we have invested over £11m into childhood cancer research, to improve early diagnosis, survival rates, treatments and quality of life, and develop experts for the future. Now, we want to take our commitment to the next level,

What impact will the Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre have?

In the short term, we will look at how to minimise hospital stays, prevent severe mucositis (mouth ulcers) and prevent nausea and vomiting. In the long-term (5-15 years), we aim to see:

  • A team of new, capable researchers who will take studies to the next level.
  • Fewer children and young people dying from side effects caused by cancer treatment.
  • Better nutritional interventions and improved psychological and social support.
  • Sustainable generation of grant income to continue to produce high-quality research.
  • A Yorkshire-based, world-class centre of excellence in research, impacting global care.

We're currently looking for people, businesses or foundations who may be able to help with funding support for this ground-breaking research. If you would like to be involved or would like to find out more, email [email protected].

Our stories

Candlelighters Yorkshire 3 Peaks
14-06-16Our stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
The early hours of Saturday 28th May saw Candlelighters supporters descend on Horton in Ribblesdale to take on the third Candlelighters Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge! Over 60 walkers set off to cover the 24 miles and 5200 ft ascent route across the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, all to raise money and awareness for childhood …
Twinvision
10-06-16Our stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
Last summer we ran an amazing project called ‘Remember with Pride’ with a animation company called Twinvision. They worked with bereaved siblings to create a Wallace and Gromit style animation film based on a cherished memory that they had of their brother or sister. The kids worked tirelessly on their animation from start to finish, …
A beautiful weekend for the Candlelighters family
09-05-16Our stories • Posted by Candlelighters Marketing
The sun was shining over us this weekend as events were held throughout Yorkshire and beyond! Fundraisers took part in challenges, cycling from Aberdeen to Bradford in memory of Candlelighters talking therapist Greg Vinnicombe, or running the Leeds Half Marathon for or in memory of a loved one. Other supporters waited for sunset, as ladies wore …
Candlelighters to be supported by Global’s Make Some Noise
04-05-16Our stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
Candlelighters has been selected as one of this year’s beneficiaries to receive funding and support through Global’s Make Some Noise. Founded in 1976 by families and medical staff, Candlelighters continues to help support children with cancer and their families across Yorkshire. They support work and equipment on the hospital wards, provide family support and fund …
Detectamet score a goal for Candlelighters
03-05-16Our stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
Since July 2014, and following a visit to Candlelighters, owners of Detectamet, Sean Smith and Angela Mousson, were determined to make a difference to our work. Detectamet, are a worldwide company, based near York, who manufacture detectable food safety, office, sanitary and hygiene supplies. They asked wedding guests to donate to us instead of giving …

Your stories

The American inspiration for Chemo Duck visits the LGI
09-06-16Your stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
Written by Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust L31 welcomed a very special visitor yesterday! Chemo Duck visited the ward with Gabe Sipos, the inspiration behind the Chemo Duck programme, who had flown over from America to see how the idea has taken off at the Leeds Children’s Hospital. Chemo Ducks are a fun, interactive way of …
A Right Royal Challenge
02-06-16Your stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
What better way for the Queen to celebrate her 90th year than by racing from Leeds to Benidorm in a clapped out Jag? On 8th June “Liz and Phil”, plus entourage, set off for Benidorm from Leeds. Their challenge was to travel the 1600 miles in 3 days, in a car that cost just over £100 each, …
Vista support The Candlelighters Awards
06-05-16Your stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
A Partnership to help raise awareness and recognition of children’s cancer in Yorkshire BY WILLIAM SUTTON – Director of Operations at Vista At the end of 2015 the Vista team decided that they wanted to nominate a charity of the year. It’s extremely difficult to choose between the plethora of excellent causes out there, even just in …
Fundraising event sees Menston sparkle for Candlelighters
29-04-16Your stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
This month, a fundraising evening event has seen Menston sparkle in pink for Candlelighters, raising over £2000 to support the charity’s work! Organised by Michelle Pattison, mum to eight-year-old patient Owen, the Pink & Sparkle event was her biggest fundraising event to date and saw a small crowd gather to eat, drink and bid on …
Three Wishes Charity Dinner
29-04-16Your stories • Posted by Elli Pugh
Late last year, supporters flocked to Harrogate’s Restaurant Bar & Grill for a night of food, entertainment and a charity auction in aid of three local charities; Candlelighters, Theas Trust and Martin House Children’s Hospice. Organised by Rowan Brunger (pictured below at our support centre – The Square), the event was a fantastic success raising …