In Tarrant County there are more than 120 families each year that have a child diagnosed with cancer. These children represent families from all walks of life that are thrust into a frightening world of pain and frustration. Candlelighters of Fort Worth works directly with the Hematology and Oncology Center of Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Since 1992 we have helped hundreds of families by offering emotional support and financial assistance; picking up where other agencies leave off.

How we help:

Financial assistance:
Raising money to provide financial assistance with meal vouchers that can be used in the hospital cafeteria, assistance with utility bills or other emergency financial needs that were unavoidable due to the child's illness, and assistance with funeral expenses for families faced with the pain of losing a child.

Social Support and Activities:

Weekly:
Thursday Evening Pizza
Monday Morning Coffee & Donuts
Family Care Coordinator Visits

Yearly:
Drive Fore Children with Cancer Golf Challenge
Water Park Picnic
Night Run
Christmas Adopt-A-Family

Mission Statement

The mission of Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Greater Fort Worth is to serve childhood and adolescent hematology/oncology patients treated through Cook Children’s Health Care System and their families, to provide support for not only these but survivors of pediatric cancers and bereaved families, and to serve these families without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin or social status.

Our goals are to:

* Meet the needs of children and adolescents with cancer and catastrophic blood disorders by providing hope, support, education and encouragement to those patients and their families.

* Increase the public’s awareness of childhood cancer and its problems; promote understanding of the special problems of children and adolescents with cancer and their families.

"Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and Aids combined."

Childhood Cancer Facts

Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.

Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.