The deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly and radio presenter Rebecca McKinney were just some of the high-profile guests at our annual Twilight Concert, which took place on Thursday 27th November at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.

The third annual Twilight Concert, hosted by Rebecca McKinney, treated guests to a mesmerising evening of music and connection with performances by Belfast’s own Brian Kennedy, the wonderful Ulster Youth Orchestra and our own Care Free Choir, made up of families supported by the charity, staff and volunteers.

Under the flickering glow of candlelight, the event welcomed Cancer Fund for Children Young Ambassador, Sophie, and the Stronge family to share their own experiences of the impact of childhood cancer and the support offered by the charity.

We provide emotional, social, and therapeutic support to children and young people (0-24yrs) living with cancer across the island of Ireland, as well as their parents and siblings, and children and young people (0-17yrs) in Northern Ireland who have a parent diagnosed with cancer. This support is provided at home, in hospital, in the community and at our therapeutic short-break centre, Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co. Down.

For over 10 years, Daisy Lodge in Co. Down has provided thousands of families with restorative short breaks, precious time to reconnect, benefit from peer support, and simply be together. Over 4,000 families have experienced this support, yet demand remains far greater than capacity. This summer, construction officially began on our second Daisy Lodge in Cong, Co. Mayo, a beautiful 30-acre site on the shores of Lisloughrey. Within 18 months, the site will be transformed into a safe, restorative haven for families impacted by cancer.