A Milton Keynes businesswoman's handmade candles have been lit by celebrities to raise awareness of brain tumours.
Carly Parkins, owner and founder of Carly’s Candle Company, an online business that operates out of her home in Blakelands, Milton Keynes, created 100 bespoke candles for Shine A Light, an awareness campaign created by Brain Tumour Research which took place on Friday 1st March, at the start of Brain Tumour Awareness Month (BTAM).
The campaign called on those affected by brain tumours to help raise vital awareness of the devastating disease by lighting a candle and sharing a photo on social media using the hashtag #ShineALight.
Around half of the candles hand-poured and gifted by Carly were sent to celebrities who have been affected by brain tumours.
In addition to singers such as Alfie Boe, Sharleen Spiteri and Suzi Quatro, this included Bridgeton actress Adjoa Andoh, Netflix star Craig Russell, Chelsea Footballer Ben Chilwell, comedian Miles Jupp and Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion Victoria Pendleton as well as TV personalities like Charlotte Crosby and Kady McDermott.
Posting a video on Twitter of him lighting a candle, legendary musician and producer Nile Rodgers said: "Join us all in shining a light across the world for Brain Tumour Awareness Month and Brain Tumour Research.”
Actor Craig Russell, who played Marc Antony in Netflix’s Queen Cleopatra and was diagnosed with a low-grade meningioma in February last year, also posted a video.
He appealed to his Instagram and Twitter followers to ‘join us in lighting a candle to remember all of those who have lost their lives to brain tumours, to those who are currently undergoing some sort of brain tumour treatment and to those who have lost someone to a brain tumour’.
He added: “Despite the fact that one in three of us will know someone affected by a brain tumour, just 1% of all cancer research funding will go towards finding out more about brain tumours, and we can change this. This time last year, I had a brain tumour removed, but I’m one of the lucky ones, and hopefully, with your help, there’ll be lots of lucky ones.”
The rest of the candles were sent to key supporters of the Milton Keynes-based charity who have a meaningful presence on social media.
Among these were the four faces of this year’s Wear A Hat Day campaign, the charity’s flagship fundraiser which has raised more than £2 million since being established in 2010 and takes place towards the end of BTAM, this year on Thursday 28 March.
Carly said: “My dad died of lung cancer in 2022 and although I know that’s not brain cancer, it does mean I know the heartache of waiting for test results only to be told there’s nothing that can be done.
“I know what it is to lose a loved one and I understand the pain and helplessness felt by many brain tumour families, which is why I was so keen to get involved in this campaign. It was amazing to see how many celebrities leant their support to it, but I guess that shows just how indiscriminate the disease is.”
Carly started making candles in 2019, soon after giving birth to her son Leo, and won her first award for sustainability in 2021.
The proud mum-of-two said: “I had a silent miscarriage prior to falling pregnant with Leo and became kind of obsessed with the toxins being released in my home from things like candles. I started looking into it and thought it would be safer to make my own.
“I’ve always been creative and making them gave me some headspace. Then my friends began wanting to buy them, which is when things started to take off, but it was the pandemic in 2020 that really catapulted my business, making it more popular than ever.”
She added: “I keep my candles looking classic, so I don’t add any colour or glitter. I also buy all my fragrance oils from British suppliers and test them thoroughly to make sure I’m picking the right scents from the right suppliers.
“They’re cruelty free, made of sustainable soy wax and finished with a coating-free wood wick, so vegan-friendly and eco-conscious too.”
Following a rebrand last year, Carly now uses biodegradable labels containing seeds.
She said: “My plantable labels were inspired by my daughter, Rose. With her name being a beautiful flower, it seemed only fitting to create something wildflowers could grow from. All you have to do is take the label off your candle, pop it in some soil and water it.”
She added: “My wellbeing took a real knock after my dad died, and I fell pregnant with Rose soon after that, so now all the scents in my range have wellbeing properties in them.
“I have around four per season and they include things like cinnamon and spiced orange, which are good for sleep, cheerfulness and calm; sea salt, which promotes positivity, relaxation and focus; and rhubarb and mint, which are good for stress-reduction and clarity.”
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Carly’s candles looked and smelt amazing; it was great to see them being lit up across social media for Shine A Light. Her generosity and support were very much appreciated. Brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40 and raising awareness of this devastating disease and the need for increased investment in research is key to driving change. We’re really grateful to everyone who helped make this awareness campaign a success. Together we will find a cure.”
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.
For more information on Carly’s products, or to purchase you own Brain Tumour Research candle, head to the website.
