A Yorkshire children’s cancer charity has celebrated 50 years of supporting families with a large party at a local theme park.
Candlelighters hosted the milestone event at Diggerland in Castleford to mark half a century of vital work. Over 500 people attended, including family members supported by the charity over the years, volunteers, and NHS staff.
The day offered an opportunity for fun, celebration, and reunions, providing a much-needed break for families affected by childhood cancer. Children and adults enjoyed driving diggers, playing games, experiencing rides, and even driving a police car.
Five Decades of Support
Candlelighters has supported Yorkshire children diagnosed with cancer and their families since 1976. Over the last 50 years, the charity has grown to provide a wide range of emotional, practical, and financial support. The organisation has also invested millions of pounds into vital childhood cancer research.
Their latest research facility, the Candlelighters Supportive Care Research Centre, opened in York in 2023 to improve survival rates and reduce treatment side effects.
Voices from the Celebration
Emily Wragg from Candlelighters said: “For 50 years, Candlelighters has been dedicated to improving the lives of children with cancer and their families. Cancer has a devastating impact on the life of the child and their whole family. With the support of people and businesses across Yorkshire, we’ve been able to ensure that families have been supported with everything they need, from a listening ear from our dedicated team to financial grants, holidays and therapies.”
She added: “One of our core values is fun. Cancer shouldn’t rob a young person of their childhood, so a big part of what we do is making sure children still get to laugh, smile and make happy memories. Diggerland was a perfect venue to hold our 50th birthday celebration. Children, young people and their families joined us for a day of pure fun, and we even got some sunshine. It was wonderful to catch up with the families we support, old and new, and see so many happy faces.”
Family Stories
The charity was flooded with thanks from grateful families who attended, with many posting pictures of their special day online.
Leo Bazzant from Wakefield was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2023, when he was aged just two. Now five, he attended the celebratory event with his mum Rachel and his dad Jonathan. The family enjoyed the rides, the dodgems, and meeting the charity mascot, Champ the elephant.
Rachel said: “We are so grateful and thankful to everyone at Candlelighters for the support they offered through our darkest times and the support they continue to offer. Our journey would have been so different if it weren’t for Candlelighters. They all work so hard to make sure children and families are supported.” She went on to say: “Thank you to everyone who donates and fundraises to keep this amazing charity going so they can continue to help children and families at their darkest times.”
Seven-year-old Freddie Isherwood from Leeds also attended the big day with his mum Becky, dad Jay, and little sister Emilia. Freddie was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2024 when he was five years old.
Becky said: “We made lots of lovely memories at the Candlelighters family day. Seeing children well and happy away from the oncology unit just makes my heart burst. Thank you to Candlelighters for the opportunities to make memories. This is the reason we are so passionate about fundraising for this amazing charity!”
Looking Ahead
Emily Wragg spoke at the event, saying: “We are incredibly proud to have been supporting children, young people and their families through childhood cancer for 50 years, and we will continue to bring that fun and magic, as well as comfort and care for children and families for the next 50 years. Thank you so much to everyone who continues to support Candlelighters and our work. Whether you’ve donated, volunteered, partnered with us, taken on a challenge event, or anything in between, you’ve helped make a difference over the last 50 years.”
