Our Story

Chester was our beautiful son.

He had a personality that was impossible to forget. His smile could light up a room, and his laugh was infectious. From the moment he discovered he could giggle, that laugh seemed to echo everywhere he went. He was cheeky, curious, loving and full of life. He loved making a mess.

He would pull open the cupboard doors and take everything out, leaving us to put it all back together again — only for Chester to come back and do it all over again, laughing as he watched us.

He loved climbing onto the sofa with his big brother Reuben and throwing the cushions onto the floor. We would put them back, and they would come behind us and wreck it all again. At the time, these little things could feel like chaos.

Now, we would give anything to have that chaos back. We would give anything to hear his laugh, see his cheeky grin and watch him make a mess of the house again. Those ordinary moments became some of our most precious memories. Then everything changed. Our world changed when Chester was diagnosed with cancer.

There is no way to prepare a parent for hearing that their child has cancer.

Suddenly, the life you thought you knew becomes hospital appointments, uncertainty, fear and an overwhelming amount of information to process. But amongst all of that, Chester was still Chester. He was still our little boy.

Still cheeky.
Still loving.
Still capable of making us smile.

And while we would do absolutely anything to change the outcome, we are incredibly proud of the little boy he was and the strength he showed.

Childhood cancer doesn’t just affect one child. It affects an entire family. It affects parents, siblings, grandparents and everyone who loves that child. It can change everyday life in ways that people outside of that world may never fully understand. There can be emotional, practical and financial pressures alongside the unimaginable fear of having a sick child.

And while medical teams work tirelessly to care for the child, families often need support in so many other ways too. That is something we will never forget.

Losing Chester

Losing Chester has changed us forever.

There are no words that can truly explain what it feels like to lose your child.

There is an emptiness that cannot be filled, and a lifetime of memories that we wish we could have had but never will. We miss everything.

His cuddles. His laugh. His cheeky smile. The noise. The mess.

The little things that once seemed so ordinary. We miss watching him grow. Watching him learn new skills. Enjoying being a little brother. We miss imagining the little boy and man he would have become. And we miss all the memories that should have been ours to make. But amongst the heartbreak, there is also an enormous amount of love. Because losing Chester did not mean losing the love we have for him. That love will always be there.

From heartbreak came Chester’s Chance

Chester’s Chance was born from that love. We knew that we wanted to do something in Chester’s memory. Something that would keep his name alive. Something positive.

Something that could help other children and families who find themselves facing the unimaginable reality of childhood cancer. We cannot change Chester’s story. We cannot give ourselves more time with him. But we can try to make a difference for someone else. We can use Chester’s story to raise awareness. We can support families. We can help children. And we can make sure that Chester’s name continues to mean something.

That is Chester’s Chance.

Our Mission

Chester’s Chance is a family-run children’s cancer charity created in memory of our son, Chester. Our mission is to support children and families affected by childhood cancer, raise awareness of childhood cancer and provide meaningful support where it is needed most. We want families to know that they are not alone. We want children to have moments of happiness in the middle of difficult days. And we want to help ease some of the pressures that families can face while their child is receiving treatment.

Because behind every diagnosis is a child.

A child with a personality. A child with dreams. A child with a family who loves them more than words can describe.

Chester’s Legacy

Chester’s life was far too short. But his impact is something we hope will last a lifetime. Every person who hears his story. Every person who wears the Chester’s Chance logo. Every fundraiser. Every donation. Every family we are able to support. Every child who gets a little more happiness during a difficult time. That is Chester’s legacy.

We don’t want people to only remember Chester for the illness that took him from us. We want them to know Chester. The little boy with the infectious laugh. The cheeky grin. The cupboard-messing. The cushion-throwing. The little boy whose eyes would light up when he saw his family. That is the Chester we carry with us. And that is the Chester we will continue to celebrate.

Why “Chester’s Chance”?

Because every child deserves a chance. A chance to laugh. A chance to play. A chance to make memories. A chance to grow. A chance to dream. A chance to simply be a child.

Through Chester’s Chance, we want to give other children and families something we wish we could have had more of ourselves — hope, support, kindness and a little bit of light during the darkest days. Chester may no longer be here physically, but his story continues. His name continues. His love continues. And through Chester’s Chance, so does his legacy.

For Chester.
For every child.
For every family.

This is Chester’s Chance.

Newborn baby sleeping in hospital bassinet, wearing a white pajama with animal prints, wrapped in a green blanket, with a knitted hat on its head, next to a stuffed animal and a birth announcement card.
Group of four people in a forested area, people smiling and holding hands, with trees and a dirt path in the background.
A smiling baby boy lying on a bed with light-colored linens and patterned pillows, holding a relaxed pose.
A man in a pilot uniform holding a young child inside a house, with framed pictures on the wall in the background.
Two young boys in sweaters and jeans in front of a decorated Christmas fireplace with garlands, ornaments, and lights. One boy is sitting on a tricycle, the other standing beside, holding hands and smiling. Christmas presents and a red sign saying 'Merry Christmas' are on the floor.
A young boy with short light brown hair and blue eyes standing indoors. He is wearing a beige sweatshirt, black pants, and gray sneakers with white laces. He has a cheerful expression. In the background, there is a Christmas decoration of Santa Claus, a potted plant, and a view of the backyard through glass doors.