Meet the cancer survivor who now works for the Northampton charity that helped her through treatment
Until Lynette was diagnosed with cancer she had never heard of The Lewis Foundation
A woman who first heard about a Northampton-based cancer charity when she was fighting the disease became so enamoured by their work that she is now working for them.
Lynette Lee, from Southfields, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2018 and had to undergo two surgeries before starting chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
During Christmas 2018, one of Lynette’s friends nominated her for a festive hamper from The Lewis Foundation, which are created to make cancer patients smile and give them one less thing to worry about by providing festive food.
Lynette said: “When you first get told you have cancer you have no idea of what is coming.
“It doesn’t matter how many people you know who have had cancer previously, until you are in that position you have no idea what is going on as there are so many different scans, tests and appointments.
“So when Lorraine turned up on my doorstep with this massive hamper it was amazing.
“Before I got one of the Christmas hampers, I had never heard of the charity and I just thought how incredible it was that they could do this having never been through it themselves.
“They just have so much love for everybody and it was just overwhelming.”
A week after Lorraine Lewis, co-founder of the charity, dropped the hamper off, Lynette started chemotherapy and received her first gift bag delivered to the hospital by the charity.
The gift bags contain small items to give cancer patients a little bit of luxury while they are having treatment.
The 50-year-old added: “When you are on your way to the hospital for chemo, you know what you are in for.
“You know you will be sitting there for hours hooked up to a machine pumping poison into your body and you know you will feel rubbish for the next week.
“It is the most brutal thing I have ever been through in my life, but knowing that little bag will be waiting for you helps.
“The surprise element and the fact someone had done this for you for really is something to look forward to and something to take your mind off what is happening.”
Lynette was amazed by the hamper and grateful for the gift bags, so became smitten with The Lewis Foundation.
As her chemotherapy finished in 2019 and she moved onto radiotherapy, Lynette started to feel a bit better, so her and her mum began helping out at the gift bag packing nights.
As her alliance with the charity strengthened, self-confessed ‘organiser’ Lynette also took on more by sorting out the charity’s lock-up.
By September this year, as her previous job finished, Lynette was offered a role as a fundraiser for the charity.
“It all just progressed and the charity just gets into your blood,” Lynette added.
“The charity has grown so quickly in such a short space of time. They deliver to nine hospitals now so there is a lot to organise.
“We’re also looking for a new space to rent because we have so much stuff we are climbing over it all.
“So when I was asked if I wanted to work for them, I said ‘absolutely yes’.
“Lorraine and Lee’s enthusiasm is amazing and they make everyone else around them feel the same.”
Lynette and The Lewis Foundation are currently working on this year’s Christmas hamper appeal, which they hope will be bigger and better than ever.
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