Young Lives vs Cancer is a national charity that supports children and young people diagnosed with cancer, along with helping and guiding their families from the moment they receive the life changing news. Their specialist social workers help families deal with the emotional shock, the disruption to daily life and the sudden financial pressures that come with long periods of treatment. The charity also provides hardship grants and arranges free accommodation close to major hospitals, allowing families to stay together during their most difficult times.
Among the many families supported by Young Lives vs Cancer is four-year-old Theo, whose story has deeply moved the local community. Theo’s family are much loved customers of the Albatross Food and Bar in Thornton Cleveleys and news of his diagnosis, an aggressive stage four cancer called Neuroblastoma, has shaken everyone who knows them. At such a young age, Theo now faces the biggest fight of his life.
Several Freemasons are also regulars at the Albatross Food and Bar and when they heard the devastating news they responded in the way Freemasons so often do: quietly, quickly and with purpose. The Albatross Food and Bar had already arranged a charity evening to raise funds for Young Lives vs Cancer, the charity that has been supporting Theo’s family through the toughest of times.
With very little time to act, a few phone calls were made and the local Freemasons rallied, on the night of the fundraiser, the generosity of those present was matched by the generosity of three local lodges who stepped forward without hesitation. Brethren of Royal Oak Lodge No 5919 donated £500, Progress Lodge No 4120 brethren added a further £500 and Blackpool Lodge No 1476 brethren contributed £200, doubling the amount raised for Theo and his family to a magnificent £2,400.
This swift and heartfelt response demonstrated the essence of Masonic charity: practical help delivered without fuss, motivated solely by compassion and the desire to support a family in crisis. For Theo’s loved ones, it was a reminder that even in the darkest moments, their community and the wider Masonic family, stands firmly beside them.
The support offered in the days leading up to the event showed the strength of the bond between Freemasons and the wider community. The swift response from local lodges ensured that the efforts of those attending the fundraiser were significantly amplified, providing meaningful help to Theo and his family at a time when it was needed most. It was a clear demonstration that Masonic charity extends far beyond the walls of the lodge room, reaching into the heart of the community and standing beside families facing their most difficult moments.