Starlight Children’s Foundation

Tom & Charlie White's page

Tom & Charlie White

Tom & Charlie White

My Story

Running the London Marathon 2026 for Team Starlight

 

In June 2003, when Tom was just 2 years old, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Charlie was 4 at the time. The next three years of our lives became dominated by hospital visits to Southampton and Winchester General Hospitals.

 

A note from Tom

'Thankfully, this is a stage of my life which I really do not remember much at all, but of those various memories I do have, most of them are attributed to Starlight, thanks to the positivity and support they gave me and my family during this time. Perhaps one to highlight is something as simple as being given a pile of sand to play with on the hospital floor, something not usually allowed, of course - it’s thanks to Starlight that these types of things happen.

Whilst I am not necessarily opposed to seeking all the attention, I recognise that this time was just as hard for my family, and I am forever grateful for Starlight, who not only supported me, but also supported my immediate family. Nothing will ever repay the cost of the work that Starlight did, but running in the London Marathon, with my brother Charlie, will certainly feel like we are at least giving something back.'

A note from Charlie

'Whilst Tom was ill, the day-to-day life of our family changed dramatically. During Tom's treatment, Mum and Dad took it in turns to stay with him in hospital. At home, we had friends and family look after Natasha and me. Mum or Dad would often rush to the hospital with no warning, leaving Natasha and me at school, not knowing who might pick us up that day. 

Being 4 years old, I was confused, too young to understand what it all meant, too young to understand why Tom, Mum and Dad weren’t at home and confused why I wasn’t getting much attention. This led me to be naughty at school, a pain in the arse to teachers, and an added stress mum and dad definitely didn’t need. All I remember knowing was that Tom was unwell and needed looking after. It was such a confusing and distressing time, and something that I personally still feel the effects of today.'

 

Through these dark few years there were, however, happy memories. These happy memories are the memories that have remained strongest in our minds, these are thanks to the support our family received from Starlight. We attended Popham Airfield for an annual day of action-filled activities, riding in planes, helicopters, hover crafts, vintage motorbikes, stretch Hummer limousines, fast cars: a distraction from reality and the effect cancer was having on Tom and our family.

To top it all off in December 2006, Tom was granted a wish with Starlight. We woke up early one morning Mum and Dad hadn’t told us we were going away, we put on our school uniform and were then told ‘you won’t be needing that today!’. We were driven to the airport, where it was revealed were off to Lapland to see Father Christmas. A trip of a lifetime, the joy it gave us, no wonder it is our strongest childhood memory. The activities, snowmobile, husky ride, gingerbread making and seeing Santa himself who somehow had our Christmas lists!

Starlight really helped bring joy to our family in this time, giving us positive memories during a time there wasn’t many. We can’t thank Starlight enough for how much they helped.

Now, more than twenty years later, we want to fundraise for Starlight, enabling them to support families like ours. Neither of us has run a marathon before, but we can't think of a better reason to start than supporting the charity that gave our family light during its darkest period.

 

The healing power of play through Starlight

At first glance, it's easy to think that play happens when the important stuff is taken care of. But for children, play is central to the way they learn and cope with new challenges.

That's why Starlight are committed to making play matter so much, it becomes an intrinsic part of every child's healthcare pathway. They want to create a world where it's official policy that play is a prerequisite on every child's medical treatment plan.

Starlight are there to help all decision-makers understand the importance of play, leading thinking on its potential for positive impact, with the science to back it up.

Starlight Children’s Foundation

Raising for:

Starlight Children’s Foundation
114%

Funded

  • Target
    £6,000
  • Raised so far
    £6,812
  • Number of donors
    98

My Story

Running the London Marathon 2026 for Team Starlight

 

In June 2003, when Tom was just 2 years old, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Charlie was 4 at the time. The next three years of our lives became dominated by hospital visits to Southampton and Winchester General Hospitals.

 

A note from Tom

'Thankfully, this is a stage of my life which I really do not remember much at all, but of those various memories I do have, most of them are attributed to Starlight, thanks to the positivity and support they gave me and my family during this time. Perhaps one to highlight is something as simple as being given a pile of sand to play with on the hospital floor, something not usually allowed, of course - it’s thanks to Starlight that these types of things happen.

Whilst I am not necessarily opposed to seeking all the attention, I recognise that this time was just as hard for my family, and I am forever grateful for Starlight, who not only supported me, but also supported my immediate family. Nothing will ever repay the cost of the work that Starlight did, but running in the London Marathon, with my brother Charlie, will certainly feel like we are at least giving something back.'

A note from Charlie

'Whilst Tom was ill, the day-to-day life of our family changed dramatically. During Tom's treatment, Mum and Dad took it in turns to stay with him in hospital. At home, we had friends and family look after Natasha and me. Mum or Dad would often rush to the hospital with no warning, leaving Natasha and me at school, not knowing who might pick us up that day. 

Being 4 years old, I was confused, too young to understand what it all meant, too young to understand why Tom, Mum and Dad weren’t at home and confused why I wasn’t getting much attention. This led me to be naughty at school, a pain in the arse to teachers, and an added stress mum and dad definitely didn’t need. All I remember knowing was that Tom was unwell and needed looking after. It was such a confusing and distressing time, and something that I personally still feel the effects of today.'

 

Through these dark few years there were, however, happy memories. These happy memories are the memories that have remained strongest in our minds, these are thanks to the support our family received from Starlight. We attended Popham Airfield for an annual day of action-filled activities, riding in planes, helicopters, hover crafts, vintage motorbikes, stretch Hummer limousines, fast cars: a distraction from reality and the effect cancer was having on Tom and our family.

To top it all off in December 2006, Tom was granted a wish with Starlight. We woke up early one morning Mum and Dad hadn’t told us we were going away, we put on our school uniform and were then told ‘you won’t be needing that today!’. We were driven to the airport, where it was revealed were off to Lapland to see Father Christmas. A trip of a lifetime, the joy it gave us, no wonder it is our strongest childhood memory. The activities, snowmobile, husky ride, gingerbread making and seeing Santa himself who somehow had our Christmas lists!

Starlight really helped bring joy to our family in this time, giving us positive memories during a time there wasn’t many. We can’t thank Starlight enough for how much they helped.

Now, more than twenty years later, we want to fundraise for Starlight, enabling them to support families like ours. Neither of us has run a marathon before, but we can't think of a better reason to start than supporting the charity that gave our family light during its darkest period.

 

The healing power of play through Starlight

At first glance, it's easy to think that play happens when the important stuff is taken care of. But for children, play is central to the way they learn and cope with new challenges.

That's why Starlight are committed to making play matter so much, it becomes an intrinsic part of every child's healthcare pathway. They want to create a world where it's official policy that play is a prerequisite on every child's medical treatment plan.

Starlight are there to help all decision-makers understand the importance of play, leading thinking on its potential for positive impact, with the science to back it up.