Star Appeal 2026: could you help families affected by cancer this Christmas?

Today marks the start of our 2026 Star Appeal, and this year we’re highlighting the impact your gift could have on our Children and Young People’s service.

This service provides wellbeing support to children who are navigating the cancer diagnosis or loss of a loved one.

From funding art therapy sessions to bolstering a new support programme for secondary school children – this Christmas you could help a young person during one of the most challenging periods of their life.

Here, Naomi Whitehead (she/her), Counselling and Complementary Therapy Lead, explains the difference your generosity could make.

Every year, around 9,000 people in our region will be diagnosed with cancer. Many will be parents, grandparents, or carers.

Not only will they have to come to terms with their diagnosis, but they’ll have to find a way to tell the children in their lives.

A loved one’s diagnosis can cause so many emotions: sadness, anger, confusion, and fear.

By donating to the Christmas Star Appeal, you’ll help us to offer therapeutic support to help children cope with the diagnosis or loss of a loved one. Sadly, many of our youngest clients will be grieving a family member – facing a lifetime without their mum, dad, grandma, grandad, or carer.

We provide children of primary school age with eight tailored support sessions. Our team meets each individual with empathy, experience, and care. They create a safe space, often using art, play, or creative therapy, to help children explore their thoughts and feelings.

Your gift this Christmas could also help us to launch a new wellbeing service for children aged 11 to 18 in partnership with Golddigger Trust. Over the past 20 years, this award-winning local charity has helped tens of thousands of young people to build self-esteem and find the gold within themselves. Now, we’re teaming up to provide personalised wellbeing support.

After an initial assessment with a Golddigger Trust youth worker, our clients can choose from a ‘menu of support’ – with a range of courses, clubs, and wellbeing activities on offer.

The delivery model is rooted in a trauma-informed methodology, which recognises the importance of giving young people agency over the support they receive.

Our clients can take part in cancer-specific groups, exclusive to Weston Park Cancer Charity participants, or mixed-cohort wellbeing groups.

This empowers the young person to decide whether they wish to focus specifically on the impact of cancer or integrate with peers facing different life challenges. This allows them to define their identity on their own terms.

Both Weston Park Cancer Charity and Golddigger Trust are fully committed to the ethos of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Cancer impacts everyone, regardless of background or belief, so it's crucial that our support services are welcoming and accessible for all.

Timely, age-appropriate support can make all the difference. It can help young people understand and process their experiences, develop ways to manage everyday challenges, and build their inner strength. These skills can have a lasting impact, enabling them to develop longer-term strategies to navigate life.

But we need your help. Your gift today could be a lifeline to a young person during a time of turmoil. It could make a lasting difference to the many local families facing cancer this Christmas .

I hope you’ll consider supporting our Christmas Star Appeal, and I thank you in advance for your kindness.

With gratitude,

Naomi Whitehead (she/her),

Weston Park Cancer Charity Counselling and Complementary Therapy Lead

To support the Christmas Star Appeal, head to: https://www.westonpark.org.uk/star-appeal-2026