Why We're Supporting Candlelighters at Living North's Christmas Fair
Living North's chosen charity for this year's Christmas Fair in York is children's charity of the year, Candlelighters
Candlelighters was our first ever Changing Lives charity in Yorkshire. We spoke to them in 2010 about their inspirational work fighting children’s cancer, and since then, the charity has continued to grow its services and support.
According to Candlelighters, more than 150 children in Yorkshire are diagnosed with cancer each year. When a child is diagnosed, Candlelighters step in to support the children and their families throughout the challenging journey.
In 1976, a group of parents and medical staff recognised a need for families with children facing childhood cancer to receive extra support and today, Candlelighters mission remains to bring light to every family affected by childhood cancer across the county. They provide emotional, practical and financial support, as well as investing in vital research to improve the outcomes and lives of children with cancer.
The charity’s family support centre, The Square, is just a minute’s walk away from Leeds Children’s Hospital and offers access to a range of high-quality support services such as wellbeing sessions, talking therapies, and peer support groups. In 2016 the charity also launched a one-of-its-kind support bus to bring the support of The Square to patients, ex-patients and their families across the county.
At the oncology wards and clinic at Leeds Children’s Hospital the charity’s family support workers provide front-line support for families, helping to signpost services and entertaining children so that their parents can get some respite. Candlelighters also fund various roles on the ward (a dinner lady, play leaders, social workers and a speech language therapist) to provide extra support for families and the NHS hospital staff.
Leeds Children’s Hospital is one of few children’s hospitals in Yorkshire and The Candlelighters Cottage acts as ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with a child staying as an inpatient on the oncology wards. The charity offers grants for families to help cover costs and ease worries. They also fund holidays, and where possible they undertake a memory-making scheme for children receiving end-of-life care.
Over the last two decades Candlelighters have invested more than £9 million into cancer research to benefit young cancer patients. Their aims are to improve early diagnosis, treatment and quality of life, to increase survival rates, and to develop experts of the future.
‘We are so pleased that Living North have chosen to partner with us for their Christmas Fair this year to support us in helping raise funds for children living with cancer,’ says senior regional fundraiser Becki Myers. ‘Around 150 families across Yorkshire receive the terrible news every year that their child has cancer. We are continually humbled working with so many brave children, parents and grandparents.
‘We are also so thankful that the people of Yorkshire donate and fundraise to ensure these children and their families receive the support they need to get through such difficult times. We need to raise over £2 million a year, [and] with no government funding we rely heavily on our community to help us ensure we can provide vital services to the families in our care.’
Earlier this month, the charity was chosen as children’s charity of the year at the Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards, which recognises the region’s bravest and most courageous children and young adults as well as the charities that support them. Emma Sutcliffe from Ilkley nominated Candlelighters for the award after receiving their support when her 17-year-old son was diagnosed with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that begins in the heart.
A number of the children supported by and involved with the charity were also recognised at the awards including 12-year-old Elliot Gunn from Halifax, who won the Fantastic Fundraiser award. His team has raised almost £30,000 for the charity. Seven-year-old Theo Hampso, from Hull, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia last year and was awarded the Sporting Superstar in the Under 10 category, and 11-year-old Lola Pinder from Leeds who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma was awarded Sporting Superstar in the 11 to 18 age group. Sixteen-year-old Bethany Martin from York was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia earlier this year and was awarded the Beyond Bravery award for 13 to 18 year olds.
You can support Candlelighters in a variety of ways, including by taking on the charity’s challenge events, taking part in your own fundraising activity, simply donating or buying their merchandise. They also offer volunteering opportunities, and a regular gift will help Candlelighters to plan ahead and respond even more to the needs of families.
At Living North’s Christmas Fair, taking place at York Racecourse from 14th–17th November 2024, visitors can meet members of the Candlelighters team to find out more about their work in the county. They will be running a tombola and will be selling merchandise including branded clothing, badges and pens. The team will also have Christmas cards for sale and visitors to the Fair are encouraged to donate to the charity (find donation buckets at our reception and at the Candlelighters stand), or by using Candlelighters’s contactless machine.
To find out more visit candlelighters.org.uk and head to York Racecourse from 14th–17th November for Living North’s Christmas Fair.
