£19,244.94 raised for Candlelighters

Last week, we had one of those moments that reminded us exactly why the Yorkshire Choice Awards mean so much to us.

As founders of the awards, we were incredibly proud to visit Candlelighters and present a cheque for £19,244.94, raised through this year’s Yorkshire Choice Awards.

Handing over that cheque was a very special moment for both of us, not just because of the amount raised, but because of what that money will mean to families across Yorkshire.

Giving back to Yorkshire

When we founded the Yorkshire Choice Awards, we wanted to create a celebration of the incredible people, businesses and organisations that make Yorkshire what it is. But we also wanted the awards to have a wider impact by supporting charities that make a real difference in our communities.

That commitment to giving back has always been incredibly important to us, and every year we are humbled by the generosity of those who support the awards.

As winners of our Charity Excellence Award 2025, Candlelighters were chosen as this year’s charity partner. The charity supports children and young people with cancer, as well as their families, across Yorkshire.

The £19,244.94 raised could fund more than 1,100 hours of support from Candlelighters’ Family Support Workers, helping families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Knowing that the money raised through the awards will translate into that level of care and support makes this achievement incredibly meaningful to us.

A milestone year

2026 has been a particularly special year, as we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Yorkshire Choice Awards.

It is also a milestone year for Candlelighters, marking 50 years of supporting Yorkshire families affected by childhood cancer.

To be able to bring those two anniversaries together with such an incredible fundraising total made the cheque presentation feel even more significant.

Ten years of celebrating Yorkshire, 50 years of Candlelighters supporting families, and one extraordinary example of what can happen when people come together for a shared cause.

It takes everyone

An amount like this is never raised by just one person or one organisation.

Our sponsors, nominees, finalists, winners, guests, supporters and everyone who donated all played a part in reaching this total.

That collective generosity is something we never take for granted.

We are incredibly proud of the Yorkshire community and of what can be achieved when people come together to support one another.

Thank you

To everyone who helped us raise £19,244.94, thank you.

And to the team at Candlelighters, thank you for the extraordinary work you continue to do for children, young people and families across Yorkshire.

Knowing that this money will help provide vital support to families facing childhood cancer is something we are both immensely proud of, and it is a powerful reminder of why the charitable side of the Yorkshire Choice Awards will always matter so much to us.

Nominations are now open for 2027

As we look ahead, nominations for the 2027 Yorkshire Choice Awards are now open.

If you know an inspiring individual, business or charitable organisation that deserves recognition, we would love to hear their story.

After ten incredible years, we remain just as passionate about celebrating Yorkshire, recognising the people who make a difference and supporting charities along the way.

Joanne & Melanie

Founders, Yorkshire Choice Awards