Chesters Chance

05/09/2026

Day 5 of Childhood cancer awareness month 🦁

I often find myself going back to this particular photo because I remember it so clearly, the smell of the room, the noise of the machines, the tightness in my chest, the fear of the unknown. However during a really difficult day Chester wrapped his arm around his favourite Teddy who never left his side, he wrapped his tiny fingers around mine and in that singular moment I remember feeling like it was the day he was born. These tiny fingers wrapped around mine, I began to cry because I wanted to go back to that day, to that moment because how the hell did we get here? Why??? I tried to hold it together but I broke in that moment and as I began to wipe my tears his little grasp got tighter, it was like he knew that I needed him to bring me back.

Our little lion 🦁

04/09/2026

Today is World Leukemia Day 🎗️🧡

03/09/2026

On the 2nd of April 2025 Chester was diagnosed with ALL. Unfortunately when he became neutropenic his immune system was non existent. He did not fall in to the higher recovery rate sadly. We want to share some facts about his type of cancer.

1. It starts in the bone marrow
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) begins in the bone marrow, where abnormal immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts multiply uncontrollably.

2. ALL is the most common childhood cancer
ALL is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in children, particularly affecting children under 5 years old.

3. B-cell ALL is the most common form
Around 75–80% of childhood ALL cases are B-cell ALL (B-ALL). It develops from immature B-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

4. It can affect healthy blood cells
As leukaemia cells build up in the bone marrow, they can crowd out healthy blood cells. This can lead to tiredness and anaemia, frequent infections, bruising or bleeding.

5. Childhood ALL can often be treated successfully
Thanks to major advances in treatment and research, most children with ALL can now be cured. Treatment usually involves several phases of chemotherapy and may sometimes include targeted therapies or other treatments depending on the type and risk group.

02/09/2026

Our amazing Reuben. The best and bravest big brother ever 🧡🦁

02/09/2026

Day 2 of childhood cancer awareness month. Something I have felt really strongly about is hearing throughout Chester’s journey and up to now still, the term “it’s rare” beside childhood cancer is simply incorrect and that is a fact! It’s not rare “it’s THERE”. It’s important to talk about because it’s more common than most choose to believe. 300,000- 400,000 Children aged 0-19 every single year worldwide are diagnosed with cancer.

01/09/2026

A special day, not only for us as a family, but for the lives we can make a difference to moving forward.

Chester’s Chance is officially a registered charity! 🦁🧡

We are incredibly proud of everything we have achieved to date, but this is sincerely special, especially as we received this amazing news on the very first day of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 🎗️

We ask you to continue to share and support us as we excitedly begin this next chapter, carrying Chester’s legacy forward.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. 🦁🧡

NI Charity number: NI111219

30/08/2026

🌈🫶🏻✨

We honestly don’t know how to start to show our appreciation for today, completely blown away by the generosity and support for the charity that Grace started. Apologies to anyone who we didn’t get speaking to with it being busy.

Special thanks to…
- Aghagallon Community Centre, for the use of the hall and kitchen
- Aghagallon Spar, for donating buns, milk and water
- NMG Enterprises , for donating sweets, crisps and drinks for the kids
- The Personal Touch, for the balloon arch and personalised treats
- Sweet'n Your Day - Coffee and Cakes, for supplying gluten free brownies
- Kosy Bakery, for donating a personalised cake
- Chesters Chance, for donating traybakes
- Trade Signs Ireland, for printing the signage

And of course thank you for everyone who baked, came, donated and talked about Grace today !!

Please tag us in any pictures you’ve taken we love to see them 🌈

Love,
Grace, Kirsty & Damian

10/05/2026

A year today since you gained your angel wings,
and not a single day has passed where you haven’t been thought about 🧡🦁

From the moment we wake, to the moment we try to sleep, you are there.
In every lion we see.
In every little flash of orange.
In every brave child fighting battles too big for their tiny bodies.

One year ago today, our world changed forever.
After 38 days walking the halls of the Haematology Ward,
holding onto hope with everything we had,
we had to say goodbye to our beautiful boy.

People often ask how we keep going.
The truth is, some days we don’t know ourselves.
Grief isn’t linear. It’s messy, painful and relentless.
But through the darkness, we have been carried by the love around us.
By our family, our friends, our community and every single person who has stood beside us through this unimaginable year.

Because of Chester.
Because of his strength.
Because of the encouragement and support you have given our family…
we refused to let his name fade into silence.

In just one short year, together we have raised over £40,000 through Chester’s Chance to support families and children walking the same path we did. Families facing long days, sleepless nights, fear, heartbreak and uncertainty inside the Haematology Ward.

What started from heartbreak has become a legacy of love, kindness and hope.

To everyone who has donated, shared a post, sent a message, attended an event, wore orange, spoke Chester’s name or simply held us up when we felt like falling apart… thank you will never feel enough.

Our beautiful boy may no longer walk beside us,
but his legacy walks ahead of us every single day.

Forever loved.
Forever missed.
Forever two. 🧡🦁

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chesterschance?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL

09/05/2026

🧡 On the eve of our beautiful boy Chester’s first anniversary, we wanted to share these lovely photos of Chester’s big brother and cousins at the Marist 5K yesterday. 🦁

Sometimes it’s not always about fundraising. Sometimes it’s simply about showing up. Raising awareness of Chester’s Chance, our little lion, our name, our mission and our slogan. Encouraging people to Google us, read Chester’s story and learn why we continue to do what we do every single day. 🧡

Last night, funds were raised for an incredible group, The Maria Goretti Foundation, and Chester’s cousins proudly insisted on wearing their Chester lion tops with pride from start to finish. Seeing our little lion carried so proudly by the children who love him most means more than words could ever explain.

We are beyond grateful for everything our friends and family continue to do for us. The support, the kindness, the conversations, the sharing of posts, the wearing of our tops, the showing up… it never goes unnoticed. 🧡

Please keep spreading our little lion’s word. 🦁

If you would like to help us continue helping families and children within the Haematology Ward at the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children, our JustGiving page is thankfully back up and running:

🧡 https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chesterschance?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL