Pink It Up Weekender Raises More Than £24,000 for Candlelighters as Yorkshire Turns Pink Once Again

The second annual Pink It Up Weekender has helped P.J Staffing surpass an incredible fundraising milestone, with the Yorkshire recruitment business now raising £23,290 for Candlelighters since the start of its charity partnership just 15 months ago.

Held across Leeds and York, the 2026 Pink It Up Weekender brought together businesses, venues and communities from across Yorkshire to raise vital funds and awareness for Candlelighters, the charity supporting children and young people with cancer and their families.

The fundraising campaign generated £11,516 during this year’s Pink It Up Weekender, helping take P.J Staffing’s overall fundraising total to date to £23,290 since becoming a Guardian Supporter in April 2025. Building on the success of the inaugural Pink It Up Weekender in 2025, this year’s campaign expanded beyond Leeds into York, with local businesses embracing the initiative through raffles, charity collections, themed events, pink-inspired food and drink offers, and fundraising activities throughout the week. A stand-out moment was the Big Pink Switch-On, during which Leeds and York City Council buildings turned pink simultaneously.

Paul McCallum, Founder of P.J Staffing and organiser of the Pink It Up Weekender, said: “Since becoming part of the Candlelighters family and community in April 2025, committing to raise £5,000 a year for three years felt daunting. To now be able to say that, after just 15 months, P.J Staffing has raised more than £23,000 is incredibly humbling. None of this would have been possible without our friends, family, local community and the fantastic businesses across Leeds and York who have supported us every step of the way. Our contribution will make a real difference to children with cancer and their families across Yorkshire. The whole P.J Staffing team is proud and honoured to support such a wonderful charity.”

The achievement comes during a landmark period for the partnership, with P.J Staffing recently being recognised as Company of the Month by Candlelighters in recognition of its ongoing fundraising efforts and commitment to supporting families across Yorkshire. They were also recently recognised as Charitable Business of the Year at the 2026 Yorkshire Choice Awards.

Jemma McMahon, Partnerships Executive at Candlelighters said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Paul and everyone at P.J. Staffing for their commitment and generosity. Their support has made a meaningful difference to families across Yorkshire affected by childhood cancer. Thanks to their support, we’re able to bring light and hope to families at the most challenging of times. We already can’t wait for Pink It Up Weekender next year!”

Since partnering with Candlelighters in April 2025 as a Guardian Supporter, P.J Staffing has consistently exceeded its original fundraising ambitions. The business initially pledged to raise £5,000 each year over a three-year partnership, a target it has now comfortably surpassed well ahead of schedule.

Paul and the P.J Staffing team have confirmed they are already looking ahead to making the Pink It Up Weekender even bigger in 2027, with plans to involve more businesses, venues and communities across Yorkshire.

For more information about P.J Staffing’s fundraising efforts, visit www.pjstaffing.co.uk.