Children’s Charity Candlelighters Attend Palace Garden Party

Yorkshire children's cancer charity Candlelighters is celebrating following the attendance of two of its leaders at a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Emily Wragg, Chief Executive Officer, and Keith Hardcastle, Chair of Trustees, were invited in recognition of the work of the charity, and were amongst specially selected guests from across the UK.

We were thrilled to have been nominated as guests at Buckingham Palace. This Garden Party was one of just two held each year. King Charles and members of the Royal Family were in attendance.

Our invitation recognised the work done at Candlelighters, by a wide range of people working hard to support children and their families through a childhood cancer diagnosis. We’re very lucky to have a large number of committed volunteers and fundraisers as well as members of staff, and each of them has an important role to play.

Keith and I feel incredibly humbled to represent such an important charity and to be a part of both what we have achieved, and what we will achieve in the future. Families are affected by childhood cancer, not only throughout treatment but beyond – whether their child has long-term side effects or the family is sadly bereaved.

“Being able to provide vital support for these families during an extremely traumatic journey is at the core of everything we do.

Keith Hardcastle adds:

“We were at Buckingham Palace to represent the support we offer to hundreds of children and their families across Yorkshire who are impacted by childhood cancer. It also reflected our wider work, including our investment into research which supports children with cancer across the UK and internationally.”

Whilst Emily and Keith joined King Charles and members of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace, the rest of the Candlelighters team also celebrated the day, hosting parties for children, families and staff, at their Family Support Centre and at Leeds Children's Hospital. Children and their families enjoyed food, games and lots of bunting to enjoy this special day for the charity.

Candlelighters is a charity which for over 45 years has brought comfort to families affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire, by providing emotional, practical, and financial support, as well as investing in vital research to save lives and reduce the suffering of children with cancer. Each year, over 150 children in Yorkshire are diagnosed with cancer.