G-Wu Restaurant Bar Takeaway is a collaboration between two sisters, Mel and Jade, who between them have more than 25 years experience in the industry.
Every year, G-WU holds a charity dinner in aid of Candlelighters where guests pay £10 for a ticket in exchange for a fantastic four-course meal bursting with authentic, contemporary Chinese flavours.
The team at G-Wu have been holding their annual dinner for Candlelighters since 2014 and have raised a whopping £6026.56 in total! On Tuesday 14th November, they will be doing it all again and holding their charity dinner evening from 5pm-11pm. The night is one of the busiest and most popular in their calendar, so guests are kindly asked to keep their dining to an hour and a half, to allow as many diners to fit in as possible. Don’t worry though, you can head downstairs to their bar to continue enjoying the atmosphere with your family and friends!
Mel, restaurant owner commented saying, “We chose Candlelighters because we wanted to contribute directly to the local community and we have always found the charity to be very well organised and a delight to work with”.
The Candlelighters team will certainly be attending the feast and we would love it if you would join us! If you are interested in buying a ticket please email [email protected] or call 0113 2370034 and we hope to see you there on the night!
We would like to thank the hard work and effort put in by G-Wu to support Candlelighters, the money raised is going to make a huge difference to families facing childhood cancer across Yorkshire.
In November 2013, Gabrielle Alderson was diagnosed with an aggressive form of children’s cancer. After the diagnosis, Gaby herself, as well as family, friends and the school she attended, worked tirelessly to raise money to fund new treatments, research and raise awareness of the disease.
After battling Neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of children’s cancer, for almost three and a half years, Gaby very sadly passed away in March this year, aged 14.
However, the fundraising efforts of those close to Gaby continued. An incredible £953.81 was raised at her funeral, which was donated to Candlelighters to help families like Gaby’s through the difficult journey presented by children’s cancer.
On top of this, Queen Mary’s School (attended by Gaby) raised over £5700, an astonishing amount of money that truly deserves to be recognised! The school held events such as ‘Wear A Wig Wednesday’, encouraging fellow pupils to come to school wearing a wig and make a small donation on arrival. They also held an autumn fair, with a tombola and stalls to fundraise for Candlelighters.
Mrs Carole Cameron, head teacher at Queen Mary’s School said: “Each year Queen Mary’s chooses a charity to support and we were delighted to make Candlelighters the focus of our fundraising efforts for the school year 2015-2016. The girls threw themselves into a wide range of fundraising activities with their usual enthusiasm, including a fashion show, a WOLF Run and a ‘Wear a Wig Wednesday’. We hope that the funds raised will make a valuable contribution to provide care for many children and their families, just as Candlelighters supported our own pupil Gabrielle Alderson and her family.”
From everybody here at Candlelighters we would like to say a massive thank you to the staff, pupils and parents at Queen Mary’s and of course to Gaby’s family and friends for helping to raise such a huge amount of money. It really does make such a difference to families affected by children’s cancer across Yorkshire.
After a successful string of trial visits across Yorkshire in Autumn last year, the Candlelighters Bus will now regularly be visiting spots around the region- and we want to invite every family affected by childhood cancer (both currently, and in the past) to join us at our organised locations.
Initially launched at the Candlelighters Awards in September 2016, the bus is a one-of-its-kind support vehicle, designed to remove distance as a barrier for families who want to access support from The Square, our Family Support Centre in Leeds. By taking The Square on the road, we’re able to reach families who live further away in Yorkshire, and bring the wellbeing therapies we offer to them.
You could be a patient, ex-patient, parent, sibling or extended family member- everyone is welcome! We are currently offering a range of complimentary treatments, from Indian head massages and acupressure chair massage to reflexology and holistic facials.
Therapies are incredibly important for the wellbeing of anyone who has been affected by childhood cancer. Charlotte, Head Therapist at The Square said: “Patients and their families experience such significant stress, but the therapies help them to protect their physical and mental health… Allowing family members the chance to relax will help them to be the very best that they can be given the really difficult circumstances that they face. Massage and reflexology, for example, help because they help to boost your circulation and reduce levels of cortisol which is the main stress hormone.”
Therapies can also help to:
- Boost the immune system
- Help eliminate toxins
- Help relieve pain
- Improve sleep patterns
- Increase energy levels
- Induce deep relaxation
- Reduce stress and tension
- Restore balance to body systems
Find out more about the bus, where we’re visiting and how to book yourself in for a treatment here. We are constantly adding new dates to the list, so keep checking in to see more and more locations.
Header Image courtesy of Jonathan Emery, Vector Photography
This September sees the first ever Candlelighters Awards in association with Vista. This brand new event looks to recognise the people who make a real difference in the fight against children’s cancer across our region. Emmerdale star, Matthew Wolfenden is set to host the ceremony which will take place during the afternoon of the 9th September at Elland Road in Leeds.
Matthew said “It’s during Children’s Cancer Awareness month and I really wanted to do something to support Candlelighters as they raise awareness of the childhood disease throughout September. Hosting the Awards was the perfect way to do just that! Given my recent cancer storyline in Emmerdale I have had to research the impact of cancer heavily, and appreciate, in some way, what patients go through. When that patient is a child, the diagnosis must be that much more difficult.”
“I am really looking forward to being involved in what promises to be a fantastic event recognising some amazing people, companies and groups. Candlelighters is a great Yorkshire charity and as a Yorkshire lad I am really proud to get behind it!”
This week, a judging panel made up of Candlelighters representatives, their Patron Lady Ingilby and Vicky Idle from Vista, the headline sponsor, met to shortlist the finalists.
Vicky Idle commented “It was great to be involved in drawing up the shortlist for the Candlelighters Awards, it was incredibly humbling to hear the lengths people have gone to in order to support the charity and we are really looking forward to seeing these efforts being recognised in September.”
“Vista have been supporting Candlelighters for almost a year now, with the events being the pinnacle of the relationship. I have no doubt the event will be the first of many, celebrating the amazing people of Yorkshire.”
A huge range of nominations were received by the charity. Daniel White has been running numerous races for the charity dressed as a Stormtrooper; Bill Desmond of York has been organising collections in the local area for around 30 years; a team from Wakefield walked nonstop over two days in memory of children’s cancer patient Holly Price; two teams have tackled European Banger Rallies, one dressed as the Queen and Prince Philip along with their entourage! The list goes on…
Kate Goldring, Fundraising Manager at the charity said “The nominations have been amazing and it has been great to see so many people get behind this, the first ever Candlelighters Awards. Already we have so many people to thank including our headline sponsors Vista, all our other sponsors and guests on the day, the nominees and of course now Matthew Wolfenden.”
“We were so thrilled Matt could get involved, he has been talking to us for some time about ways to support and the Candlelighters Awards seemed like the perfect opportunity. A big thank you to him for his time and commitment to Candlelighters.”
Candlelighters has been supporting families affected by children’s cancer in Yorkshire for over 40 years and now need to raise over £1.5m each year to maintain their services. In Yorkshire alone around 150 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. Candlelighters exists to offer family support, invest in the wards at Leeds Children’s Hospital and invest in research into the causes and potential future treatments of children’s cancer.
The Candlelighters Awards will take place on September 9th from 11.00 am at the Centenary Pavilions Elland Road. Limited tickets are available for the event and award sponsorship can be discussed with the Candlelighters team. Simply call 0113 3229283 to find out more or e-mail [email protected] or visit the website www.candlelighters.org.uk/candlelightersawards
This September Candlelighters is holding its very first Awards ceremony recognising the people of Yorkshire in their support of Candlelighters. The Awards, in association with Vista, are in the last week of welcoming award nominations as the panel will begin deliberations from Monday 4th July.
The event, taking place on September 9th is already well supported with headline support from Vista and also Award categories being sponsored by the likes of Town Centre Securities, MWA Associates and Brewin Dolphin to name a few.
Kate Goldring, Fundraising Manager for the charity said “We are thrilled with the nominations we have received so far but we don’t want anyone to miss out on their chance to give someone the recognition they deserve. Candlelighters has some incredible supporters and we are really looking forward to the chance to celebrate all they do for us.”
The dinner falls in Children’s Cancer Awareness Month, an international event to raise awareness of children’s cancer globally. Leeds is the home to Candlelighters, a charity that has been supporting children fighting cancer and their families, across Yorkshire, for over 40 years.
James Wilkins, Managing Director of Vista explained their support of the charity. “Our team chose Candlelighters as their charity of the year and we’re delighted to be supporting them with their very first Candlelighters Awards this year. We work with global brands to increase awareness and engagement so helping Candlelighters propel their brand awareness in the region, along with the important research and therapeutic support they fund, is something the whole team are really excited about.”
The event will take place at the Centenary Pavilion at Elland Road on September the 9th. Tickets are available for the afternoon event which includes a three course meal, welcome drink and the awards itself. Simply visit http://www.candlelighters.org.uk/shop/events/awards/ to secure your table.
Sponsorship opportunities are also still available, contact Brian Curran on 0113 3229283 or [email protected]
To nominate visit www.candlelighters.org.uk/awards
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 research. Just over a year ago the charity opened The Square, a brand new family support centre for families affected by children’s cancer.
The Square offers all members of the family support, from talking therapies to wellbeing treatments such as massage and reflexology. The Square also runs specialist groups for grandparents and brothers and sisters. Children’s cancer can affect the whole family so it’s vital that practical and emotional support is available.
Photo Copyright Karen Turner Photography
The Global Make Some Noise campaign for Candlelighters will be broadcast across their Yorkshire stations, Heart and Capital throughout 2016. The aim is to raise enough funds for a Project Support Worker Role for two years. This role is pivotal to the charity’s Family Support Operation and will work with brothers and sisters, parents and patients who have been affected by children’s cancer.
Candlelighters’ Fundraising Manager Kate Goldring said “We are thrilled to have the support of such an amazing initiative. We know that the year ahead will be exciting and we can’t wait to tell Yorkshire more about the work we do across our region. This is a great opportunity to get Yorkshire backing the fight against children’s cancer and we can’t thank Global’s Make Some Noise enough for choosing Candlelighters”
Global’s Make Some Noise was created by Global, the media & entertainment group. The charity unites all of Global’s brands, including Heart, Capital, Capital XTRA, Radio X, Classic FM, LBC, Smooth and Gold, to give a voice to small charities and projects across the UK which struggle to raise awareness.
On Friday October 7th 2016, Global will unite its brands and friends from the world of media and entertainment to give a voice to small charities and projects across the UK that struggle to raise awareness.
Emma Bradley, director of Global’s Make Some Noise, said: “More than 24 million people tune in to Global’s radio brands every week with millions more engaging with us through out digital platforms. This puts us in an fantastic position to help charities and projects that would otherwise struggle to raise awareness. We’re so pleased that we’re able to support Candlelighters this year.”
On Saturday 16th April 2016, a determined family group took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise awareness around neuroblastoma, and a nearly £2000 sponsorship for Candlelighters, in memory of Pierce White Carter.
Dom White who was leading the group said, “During Pierce’s two and a half years of illness, Candlelighters provided us all with support and supplied the hospital wards where he was receiving treatment with things to help keep the children entertained and their spirits up: games, books, jigsaws, games consoles, TVs, DVDs, toys – the list goes on.
What they do is fantastic as sometimes the children just need to feel like they have their home comforts. Candlelighters go a massive way in helping to achieve that.”
We want to say a huge thank you to Dom, Lucy and family for taking on this challenge in support of Candlelighters, and for their kind words about how they were helped through some really tough times.
If you have ever thought about walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks, what better way to do it than with the full support of Team Candlelighters? There are a few places available to join us at our event on Saturday 28 May 2016. Just click here to sign up.
