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Here for Hope for Families with Childhood Cancer
For nearly 50 years, Candlelighters has provided comfort, community and support for families in Oregon and SW Washington battling childhood cancer.
We make sure no family faces childhood cancer alone.
Who We Serve
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, everyone in the family and the child’s community is impacted. This is why we offer programs and services for the whole family throughout the lifelong journey of childhood cancer.
Candlelighters’ Story
Candlelighters For Children With Cancer was founded in 1977 by five families who had one thing in common: a child impacted by cancer. Today, nearly 50 years later, Candlelighters has served over 100,000 family members through the crisis of childhood cancer.
Our Impactmore numbers
100000+
family members served since 1977
40+
family events held each year
$100000+
in emergency financial assistance
2500+
families served each year
Family Eventsmore family events
Upcoming Events
Fundraising Eventsmore fundraising events
Upcoming Events
Donate to Candlelighters
Candlelighters stands by local families facing childhood cancer by offering a range of programs for the entire family and a strong community across Oregon and SW Washington for families in crisis. All of our programs are free of charge and we welcome families at every stage of the childhood cancer journey. As we like to say, once a Candlelighter always a Candlelighter. Individual, foundation and corporate giving sustain our vital programs. Your support brings comfort when it is needed most. Every donation makes a real difference.
Candlelighters on Instagram follow us
Introducing Katia–one of our 2026 Ride for a Child honored children! 🚴🎗️
Katia is an eleven-year-old who loves gaming and cats!
She’s a big fan of Netflix’s Wednesday and K-Pop Demon Hunters. Katia also likes to draw and color 🩷💜
Katia was diagnosed with leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
Katia is one of our @rideforachildoregon Honored Children!
Every year, our Ride for a Child cyclists fundraise in honor of children who have been diagnosed with cancer, culminating in the @cycleoregon Rally!
Read Katia`s full bio and support her team at rideforachild.org or the link in our bio! 🔗
#childhoodcancerawareness #cycleoregon #rideforachild #candlelighters
Our Family Day 2026 photo gallery is out! 📸
We’ve put together a selection of the day’s best photo highlights—including family portraits from the event—which you can view and download!
Check out the photo gallery at the link in our bio🔗
#candlelighters #childhoodcancerawareness
Family Day Carnival 2026! 🎡🎗️
An unforgettable day of connection, community, and fun with our families 💛
A big thank you to our volunteers, supporters, donors, and of course–our families! All of the work we do is possible because of you!
@greshamfirefighters
@greshamfiredept
@chuystacoshop
@icandygresham
@gresham_icandy
@westlinnhairport
Ashley Jansen
Thunder Mountain Ponies
DJ Rich at Soundguy Productions
#candlelighters #childhoodcancerawareness #pxdnonprofit #gresham
This year’s Family Day was one to remember! 💛
Family Day always gives us to many happy memories to look back on!
Thank you so much to everyone who came and made the day special, we are so lucky to have such amazing families 🫶
Keep an eye out for more family day content to come + our event photo gallery! 📸
A big shoutout to all of our in-kind donors, volunteers, staff, and supporters for making this day possible!
@greshamfirefighters
@greshamfiredept
@chuystacoshop
@icandygresham
@gresham_icandy
@westlinnhairport
Ashley Jansen
Thunder Mountain Ponies
DJ Rich at Soundguy Productions
#candlelighters #childhoodcancerawareness #familyday2026 #gresham
