The team at Coffee Care has a long, personal history with Candlelighters and the work they do, and the relationship has continued to flourish in the past couple of years - especially now with the new release of Champ’s Coffee - a specialty coffee launched to raise funds for the children’s cancer charity in Leeds.
Rory’s Story
Rory is the grandson of our lovely deliver driver Iain. In 2016, just two days before his first birthday, Rory was diagnosed with AML (Acute myeloid leukemia - a rare cancer that affects bone marrow and blood.) And throughout the year, Coffee Care followed the courageous journey Rory and his family went on.
Following two months of chemotherapy in Palma, Mallorca, Rory returned home and to Leeds General Infirmary in the hopes of reducing his cancer levels to a point where he could have a bone marrow/stem cell treatment.
The team here at Coffee Care wanted to support Iain and his family in some way, and so in November of that year, we ran the Skipton Santa Fun Run 5K - raising over £3,000 for the charities supporting Iain, his family and many others in similar circumstances.
Despite all of the continued treatment and support however, Rory sadly passed later that year– but Iain and his family are so grateful for the invaluable support they received, and to this day still receive from Candlelighters children’s cancer charity - especially the bereavement support for Rory’s siblings and the use of Candlelighters Cottage, a home-from-home emergency accommodation just a short walk from Leeds Children's Hospital where families can rest, recharge, and use the facilities to cook meals and do laundry.
Coffee Care and Candlelighters
Based in Leeds, Candlelighters are a children’s cancer charity established in 1976 by a group of parents and medical staff recognising the need for support for families affected by childhood cancer. Their mission is to bring light to every family affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire 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.
Fast forward to 2024, and at the end of a business meeting, we were asked if there was anything Coffee Care could do to support the Candlelighters charity.
We were told that they have their own special café area at The Square, their family support centre located in a beautiful property opposite Leeds General Infirmary, where the families of children with cancer can go to relax, take some time out or seek support. Knowing that it’s not always just about raising funds, but controlling costs that can be challenging for charities – we felt it was immediately clear how we could help and so began our relationship with Candlelighters.
A blooming partnership
We started donating coffees and teas to The Square, as well as offering technical support services for their coffee machinery. But we felt there was still more we could do to help the charity as a whole - now that’d we’d help them save money - we thought about how we could help them raise it.
Champ’s Coffee
Working together with Candlelighters we have released a brand-new retail coffee - Champ’s Coffee - named after Champ - the charming elephant mascot who represents the children’s cancer charity. To help support Candlelighters fundraising efforts, 20% of all sales of the coffee will go directly to the Leeds based charity.
Available in 227g retail packs of both whole beans and ground coffee - the 100% Arabica coffee has a beautifully complex profile with notes of ripe juicy blackcurrant, dried berry and rich dark chocolate - a truly delightful cup of coffee and an excellent cause to match.
Candlelighter’s Work
They have done so much excellent work over the decades, and we could not be prouder to work alongside them to support everything they do. It’s not only support work during diagnosis and treatment they provide, but research funding, financial support, family care and post treatment support as well as so much more.
In 2024 alone, they provided support to 113 new families across Yorkshire facing a cancer diagnosis, gave financial support to 281 families and their Family Support Workers provided over 7,000 hours of emotional support as well as practical help. This is all thanks to donations and fundraising efforts from over 2,000 people as well as 375 volunteers giving a total of 3,954 hours of their time.
The future
Candlelighters turns 50 in 2026, and we can’t wait to celebrate such an impressive milestone with them - as well as looking forward to working with them for many more years to come.
If you want to donate, find out more about fundraising, or the support that Candlelighters offer - call 0113 887 8333 or visit their website www.candlelighters.org.uk.
To support Candlelighters through Champ’s Coffee - head to the product page now to get your hands on a speciality coffee for a special cause - www.coffeecare.co.uk/collections/champs-coffee