What's good! Decided to put myself through a big task doing the Manchester Marathon 2024 all whilst raising money for Candlelighters!

Candlelighters are a charity based in Yorkshire who work to support children who have been diagnosed with cancer. They support children and families receiving treatment at Leeds children's hospital, funding talking therapy for adults and children, extra NHS roles at the hospital and family support workers. They also cover peer support groups, financial grants to cover increased costs, respite activities and holidays to make happy memories, and provide accommodation to keep the families close together when a child is in hospital, just to name a few things.

They have also recently launched a research centre which will benefit children and young people with cancer everywhere. 1 in 3 children who die with cancer actually die from the brutal side effects of the treatment, and not enough research looks at how to prevent this. The research centre is going to look at how to reduce the side effects, increasing the liklihood of children living through and beyond the cancer.

Here's what your donations could fund:

£10 Could fund materials in hospital to help bring fun to what might be a daunting medical environment for the children.

£30 Could fund a day trip for a patient or sibling to have some fun and make some happy memories.

£45 Could fund a new patient pack to explain the support families can get when they've just been given a heartbreaking diagnosis.

Regarding research:

£10 Could fund a child's blood test needed for a research study.

£25 Could fund an hour of a junior researcher's time to spend on a childhood cancer study.

£50 Could fund the support needed for a child or young person to take part in a research study.

Basically Candlelighters do a LOT to try and bring a bit of support, fun and happiness in the dark times to the children and families dealing with cancer.

It's hard to actually put into a few paragraphs what they do, but just know it's a lot.

I've chosen to run for Candlelighters because a close friend of mine actually works for the charity and she can directly see how donations are being used to help the children and their families.

I think I'm putting myself through a difficult time by training for and running a marathon.

But realistically what I'm doing is NOWT compared to what these kids and their families are having to endure.

Putting yourself a few quid out of pocket could really go a long way for these kids.

So whether it's £1 or £100, no donation is too small. Every last penny is MASSIVELY appreciated and could go a long way for these kids.

Let's do what we can for them!