Candlelighters, the Yorkshire charity dedicated to supporting families affected by childhood cancer, has announced a new partnership with North East based bakery business Cooplands Bakery.
From May 2026, all Cooplands Bakery shops will display collection boxes to raise funds for Candlelighters to help support the vital work they do to help local families who are having to manage the devastating impact of childhood cancer. In addition to raising funds on a daily basis, Cooplands will also be supporting Candlelighters with a series of initiatives including participating in their major annual fundraising week, Pink It Up Week, helping to turn Yorkshire pink 1-7 June 2026. Other planned initiatives include a sponsored work around the Scarborough Deckchair Trail by Cooplands colleagues and supplying delicious baked goods for a series of Candlelighters celebrations and events.
Candlelighters was established in 1976 and this year marks 50 years of vital support and research. With 150 children diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire every year, their mission is to bring light to every family affected by providing emotional, practical and financial support, as well as bringing hope, by investing in vital research to improve the outcomes and lives of children with cancer.
Emily Wragg, CEO of Candlelighters, said: “We are delighted that Cooplands Bakery have chosen to support children and young people with cancer by partnering with Candlelighters. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, life is turned upside down for them and their family. Cooplands’ support will make a huge difference to these families, helping them to navigate the emotional and practical challenges ahead. Candlelighters receives no government funding, so it’s entirely thanks to fundraising like Cooplands’ that families can access our vital services whenever they need them.”
Amy, mum to Aaron, who was diagnosed with lymphoma aged 8, said: “The Candlelighters team were constantly at hand for anything that was needed, offering support to the whole family. Their support was such an invaluable necessity for both mine and Aaron’s wellbeing throughout our stay in hospital. We hoped and prayed every day but however dire, helpless, and hopeless things felt, one thing that was a ray of light throughout the journey was Candlelighters.”
John Ruddock, CEO of Coopland’s Bakery, said: “Supporting the communities in which Coopland’s operates is at the heart of our business. Candlelighters do an incredible job of supporting families in those communities who are impacted by childhood cancer and we are proud to be able to use our shops and colleagues to help them to do even more.”
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
