Northampton charity works round-the-clock to still gift cancer patients with 2,500 care packages

Lorraine and Lee Lewis, from Upton, were inspired to set up The Lewis Foundation four years ago after they spent a lot of time in Northampton General Hospital with Lee’s mum who was being treated for non-hodgkin lymphoma. They noticed how sad and bored patients looked on the wards and in the private rooms when they were on their own, without family and friends.

The couple spoke about what they could do to give patients something to look forward to, to take their minds of their illness and the seemingly endless treatments. Drawing from their own personal experiences, they knew that patients and their families struggle financially, emotionally and physically throughout the treatment phase, so they decided to hand out care packages to cancer patients.

Since then the British Citizen award-winning charity has spread their wings and now hand out thousands of goody bags to cancer patients across seven East Midlands hospitals, including NGH and KGH.

During lockdown, nurses at the hospitals have instead continued the charities work to help hand out care packages to cancer patients on the ward - giving them a much-needed boost with no visitors allowed onto the wards.

And, in a first for the charity, The Lewis Foundation has this month been given a £3,000 grant from Northamptonshire Community Foundation to make up emergency packs for cancer patients isolating in the community.

All in all, the husband and wife duo estimate they've given out more than 2,500 care packages to poorly people.

Lorraine, whose volunteers are now packing the gift bags in their own homes ready to be delivered to hospitals, said: "The whole reason we set up The Lewis Foundation four years ago was because we wanted to make a real difference. It can be a sad, frightening and lonely experience for individuals undergoing cancer treatment, especially during this pandemic when their loved ones can’t be with them.

"The items and essentials we source, package and deliver for free to oncology wards in the East Midlands include things patients might find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford – and that brings people happiness and comfort at a difficult time."

"Adults are having to go through cancer treatment alone during this challenging period of self-distancing, and that’s why it’s more important than ever for us to continue to deliver our free gifts and support packs to patients in hospitals."

For more information on how to support the charity visit www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk/donate or donate to their Amazon wishlist here.