Candlelighters – Childhood Cancer Family Alliance

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OUR MISSION

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance provides emotional, educational and practical support to families of children with cancer.

Hospital Parking Fund

31000

14832

Donate

Margarita Taste Off

115000

81499

Donate

Fun Walk

255000

16542

Donate

Break a Clay for Candlelighters

130000

95892

Donate

School Initiative

6000

0

Donate

Lights of Courage

460000

27098

Donate

Adopt A Family

16000

1930

Donate

Thanks to you, in 2024 we raised more than $1.81 million dollars! Last year your support provided:

Families Served 5,417

Hours of Support 4,257

Parking Validations 10,225

Family Members Adopted 1,561

UPCOMING EVENTS

10 Jul 2025
Thursday 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Summer Surprises
SUMMER SURPRISES Summer Surprises parties are held each summer for Children’s Memorial Hermann, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, and MD Anderson…
06 Sep 2025
Saturday 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Fun Walk
Walking alongside childhood cancer families each step of the way. Join us!
23 Oct 2025
Thursday 5:30 PM-10:00 PM
Lights of Courage
Join us as Candlelighters honors childhood cancer heroes who are lights of courage in our community.

🎓✨ Time for more Senior Spotlights! ✨🎓

🎓✨ Time for more Senior Spotlights! ✨🎓

🎓 Sofia Echegollen is an acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivor and recently graduated with a Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis! She passed the exam to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and recently began working at a company where she strives to create life-changing goals for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Congratulations on these amazing accomplishments, Sofia!

🎓 Carmen Gonzalez, Long Term Survivor of ALL, is graduating from Texas A&M University. She will be receiving a BS in Biomedical Engineering and plans to work in the field of Quality Assurance or Regulatory Affairs. Carmen’s hope is to keep citizens safe through the regulation of medical devices with quality assurance. Congratulations Carmen!

🎓 Lilianna Isabel Alvarez, sister to patient Emily, is graduating from the University of Houston – Downtown. She will be graduating with honors and will begin volunteering with children that are currently receiving cancer treatments during their summer camps. Lilianna will be a certified Child Life Specialist that services children, like her sister Emily, during the difficult times in their lives. Congratulations, Lilianna!

🎓 Kensington Martin, a laryngeal cancer survivor, is graduating from Pelion High School. During her high school years, Kensington was part of the National Honor Society, National Beta Clue, and a SC Life Scholar. In the fall, she plans on attending Appalachian State University to double major in Women's Gender/Sexuality and Public Health. Way to go, Kensington!

Help us wish these awesome seniors well in their next chapter of life! 🥳

Thank you to our friends at Steak 48 Houston for h

Thank you to our friends at Steak 48 Houston for hosting Candlelighters for an incredible evening honoring and thanking our top donors! It was a gorgeous evening with delicious food and cocktails, gathering to simply say THANK YOU for supporting our childhood cancer families, and thanks to Steak 48, we didn't have to spend any of our vital funding to do so.

Special thank you to Brooke Raish for sharing about her daughter Posey's cancer journey, and how Candlelighters is making an impact on their family, with our guests. The whole room was moved by your family's story. 💛

We were also excited and honored to have Candlelighters Founder Mary Helmreich in attendance to meet so many people who have helped Candlelighters along this path for the last 30 years!!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special reception!

“Candlelighters has been so wonderful to us. For

“Candlelighters has been so wonderful to us. For the past 7 months, we have been to Texas Children’s Hospital three, sometimes four times, a week for treatment for my daughter Bella, who has been battling brain cancer.

As a single mom who had to quit my job to care for my daughter full-time, Candlelighters has been a blessing to our family.”

As of January 1, 2023, the daily rate to park a car in the Texas Medical Center has increased from $15 to $19. That's an increase of $4 per day - $28 per week - $120 per month - $1,460 per year - all out of pocket for families to simply park their car so their child can receive life-saving treatment!

Today, on the 19th of the month, we’re asking for your help. Consider making a one-time $19 donation OR sign up to become a monthly Parking Campaign Donor - when you do, you can do so knowing that your gift goes directly to a family like the Reswebers.

Visit www.candle.org to donate today. Because of donors like you, our Candlelighters families have one less worry when they go to the hospital for treatment.

Please help us wish Jaynie Hutchinson, our lead Pa

Please help us wish Jaynie Hutchinson, our lead Parent Consultant serving MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital families, a VERY HAPPY RETIREMENT!

Jaynie’s efforts to provide support to families of children with cancer (families whose shoes she has walked in herself) has never faltered in her 22 years as a Candlelighters Parent Consultant! We are so grateful for her devotion and passion to provide others with hope and support. The whole Hutchinson Family has been an integral part in this organization and we are so thankful for their commitment to Candlelighters through the years. As Jaynie’s daughter LeighAnna so beautifully wrote, “She has walked this journey with thousands. She has brought light to some of the darkest places.”

Please join us in congratulating Jaynie on 22 years of service to Candlelighters and help us wish her well in her retirement. Although we are going to miss Jaynie tremendously, we know how much she loves to travel and enjoy the beach. We are hoping that there is a beach vacation in her near future!

If you have a sweet memory or special photo of Jaynie with your family, please post them in the comments below. We love you Jaynie!! This isn't a goodbye, it's a "See you later!" 💛

✨🎓 SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS 🎓✨ 🎓 Jramail Ty

✨🎓 SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS 🎓✨

🎓 Jramail Tyler II, an AML long-term survivor, is graduating from Thurgood Marshall High School. During high school, Jramail achieved success in the National Honor Society and honor roll. He plans to attend Texas Southern University in the fall. We are so proud of you, Jramail!

🎓 John Gulley, brother to patient Sophia Gulley, is graduating from Canyon Lake High School. John was on the Canyon Lake varsity baseball team as the 1st baseman and pitcher and achieved A/B honor roll! John will be headed to college to study and become a physical therapist. Congratulations, John!

🎓 Anthony Howard is graduating from Morton Ranch High School this month! Throughout his high school career, Anthony has overcome many obstacles, including cancer treatment, homelessness, and the loss of his father. Throughout it all, he has never lost his faith, fought hard through his challenges, and will be graduating as an honor student. Anthony will be attending Prairie View A&M to study engineering in the fall. Congratulations, Anthony, on all your accomplishments! We are so impressed by your grit and determination – looking forward to hearing about your successes!

🎓 Carson Hill is a germinoma survivor and will also be graduating from Morton Ranch High School this month! During his high school career, Carson was a member of the varsity golf team and is an all-around amazing student with the biggest heart. Every year in high school, Carson was voted to be awarded the Purple Heart Award, which goes to the most supportive, encouraging, and “always there for you” teammate. In the fall, Carson will attend Stephen F. Austin University! Way to go, Carson!

Help us congratulate these grads on this amazing milestone! 🥳

Sending a HUGE THANK YOU to @team_rejoyce today! T

Sending a HUGE THANK YOU to @team_rejoyce today! Their annual Washer Tournament, held last weekend, raised just over $22,000, all benefiting Candlelighters and childhood cancer families!! That is no small feat! This effort, put on by the Stevenson Family in memory of their mom Joyce, is a labor of love and a true testament to the continued support from family and friends in the city of Moulton, Texas and beyond.

THANK YOU to the Stevenson Family, tournament competitors, those who were bidding and buying auction items, those who donated, and everyone who showed up!! It was an amazing couple days and we are completely honored that you chose to benefit Candlelighters this year. Our childhood cancer families say THANK YOU!

"A mother is she who can take the place of all oth

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take." -Cardinal Mermillod

As fellow moms of children who have battled cancer, our Candlelighters Parent Consultants can relate to your journey. We are honored to support you during this chapter of your life, as no family facing childhood cancer should have to walk this path alone.

We know some pretty amazing, strong, courageous, irreplaceable mothers! 💝 We hope you feel loved, cherished, and appreciated today and always. 🫶 Sending all the moms out there a Happy Mother's Day! 💐

We are so excited for our 3rd Annual Break A Clay

We are so excited for our 3rd Annual Break A Clay for Candlelighters THIS FRIDAY! RAIN OR SHINE, we will be there raising money for families facing childhood cancer! 🎗

Anyone can bid in our silent auction! See all the packages here and help us raise some money for childhood cancer families: https://tinyurl.com/bidclay2023 - just make sure to get your bids in before Friday, May 12th at 2:30PM CST. 🤩

Special shout out to our AMAZING sponsors and partners who have already made this event a huge success! We are over $70,000 raised AND COUNTING! 🥳

It's time for more 🎓✨ SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS ✨🎓 today!

Twins sisters Sarah and Sandra Reyes, sisters to childhood cancer patient Cynthia, will be graduating from Frank J. Dobie High School this month! Sarah is planning to go on to study art animation and Sandra will go to school to study music! Congratulations on such a big milestone! Wishing you both the best on your next chapters!

Help us congratulate these awesome seniors in the comments! 🥳

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