Candlelighters Trust

Team Harlee

Lisa Darling
Team

Team captain: Lisa Darling

About

In June 2023, my 2 year-old daughter Harlee, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblasic Leukemia (ALL).

The Candlelighters were the first charity we were introduced to whilst admitted onto the Oncology Ward at Leeds Childrens Hospital. They explained how the could support our family and what services they provided. We told them we lived in Scarborough (68 miles away) and they immediatley arranged for a room at The Cottage, a beautiful 4 bedroom house round the corner from the hopsital, with living/kitchen dining room and all the amenties needed whilst having a long stay in hospital. This room was an absolute blessing. After the 3rd day of diagnosis, the ward only permits 1 parent to stay over on an evening. Having that room allowed Terence and I to take it in turns to stay whilst the other could go to The Cottage and try and get some restbite, this was sooooooo essential after 16 hour days on the hospital ward. Without The Cottage, one of us would have had to have travelled home and back. Looking back now, it wouldn't have even been worth thinking about. We attend Oncology Clinic every week and have had muliple in-patient stays since Harlee's diagnosis, each time The Cottage has been provided to us.

The team members are AMAZING!!!!!!!!! They know who you are, come chat to you, make sure your doing as well as can be and ALWAYS ask if you need anything. They offer you appointments for massage, counselling and much more. That brew and biscuit they bring you when your sat watching your child hooked up to a machine having treatment can be a god-send after a very intense day. They always have fun with Harlee and know she has a cheese sandwich pack-up, another item they provide daily for all Oncology patients. I honestly do not know how they do this job everyday.

The Candlelighters are a local Yorkshire charity and one Terence and I feel very strongly and passionate about fundraising for. Without them, the first 3 weeks of our daughters diagnosis could have been so much more stressful in an already distressing situation.

We can't thank them enough and now its time for us to try and give something back. Please help me support this fantastic charity to continue their amazing work they do for all Oncology families past, present and future.  

Our fundraising so far:

  • Clubbercise Dance Class with raffle, bake sale and glow up face painting
  • 33 runners in the Leeds Half Marathon
  • William Hare Charity Football Match
  • William Hare Group York Event
  • Have Fun for Harlee - Family Fun Day 
92%

Funded

  • Target
    £20K
  • Raised so far
    £18.5K
  • Number of donors
    466

About

In June 2023, my 2 year-old daughter Harlee, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblasic Leukemia (ALL).

The Candlelighters were the first charity we were introduced to whilst admitted onto the Oncology Ward at Leeds Childrens Hospital. They explained how the could support our family and what services they provided. We told them we lived in Scarborough (68 miles away) and they immediatley arranged for a room at The Cottage, a beautiful 4 bedroom house round the corner from the hopsital, with living/kitchen dining room and all the amenties needed whilst having a long stay in hospital. This room was an absolute blessing. After the 3rd day of diagnosis, the ward only permits 1 parent to stay over on an evening. Having that room allowed Terence and I to take it in turns to stay whilst the other could go to The Cottage and try and get some restbite, this was sooooooo essential after 16 hour days on the hospital ward. Without The Cottage, one of us would have had to have travelled home and back. Looking back now, it wouldn't have even been worth thinking about. We attend Oncology Clinic every week and have had muliple in-patient stays since Harlee's diagnosis, each time The Cottage has been provided to us.

The team members are AMAZING!!!!!!!!! They know who you are, come chat to you, make sure your doing as well as can be and ALWAYS ask if you need anything. They offer you appointments for massage, counselling and much more. That brew and biscuit they bring you when your sat watching your child hooked up to a machine having treatment can be a god-send after a very intense day. They always have fun with Harlee and know she has a cheese sandwich pack-up, another item they provide daily for all Oncology patients. I honestly do not know how they do this job everyday.

The Candlelighters are a local Yorkshire charity and one Terence and I feel very strongly and passionate about fundraising for. Without them, the first 3 weeks of our daughters diagnosis could have been so much more stressful in an already distressing situation.

We can't thank them enough and now its time for us to try and give something back. Please help me support this fantastic charity to continue their amazing work they do for all Oncology families past, present and future.  

Our fundraising so far:

  • Clubbercise Dance Class with raffle, bake sale and glow up face painting
  • 33 runners in the Leeds Half Marathon
  • William Hare Charity Football Match
  • William Hare Group York Event
  • Have Fun for Harlee - Family Fun Day 

Lisa Darling is fundraising towards