Northampton couple set up charity to support cancer patients in hospital

A couple in Northampton has set up a charity that raises money to support cancer patients being treated in the town's hospital.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th May 2016, 06:28 BST
Updated 4th May 2016, 10:30 BST
Lee and Lorraine Lewis have set up The Lewis foundation to provide items for cancer patients in Northampton General Hospital hWEfF_6u3pzbAqPptCuYLee and Lorraine Lewis have set up The Lewis foundation to provide items for cancer patients in Northampton General Hospital hWEfF_6u3pzbAqPptCuY
Lee and Lorraine Lewis have set up The Lewis foundation to provide items for cancer patients in Northampton General Hospital hWEfF_6u3pzbAqPptCuY

Lee and Lorraine Lewis, of Upton, were inspired to start up The Lewis Foundation after they spent a lot of time in Northampton General Hospital as Lee’s mum was being treated for non-hodgkin lymphoma.

Lorraine Lewis said the couple had noticed how “sad and bored patients” looked on the Talbot Butler ward and wondered what they could do to cheer them up.

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Mrs Lewis said: “From our own personal experiences we know that for the patient and their family it is a difficult time - financially, emotionally and physically. This is why we wanted to assist in some way to relieve that.

Lorraine Lewis has completed numerous fun runs to raise money for charity JvBOR6-6_ktmg0xPe7DzLorraine Lewis has completed numerous fun runs to raise money for charity JvBOR6-6_ktmg0xPe7Dz
Lorraine Lewis has completed numerous fun runs to raise money for charity JvBOR6-6_ktmg0xPe7Dz

“For the past two years we have been fund-raising to provide items for the Talbot Butler Ward at Northampton General Hospital, which we felt would be a benefit to patients and their families.”

In the past two years, Lorraine has been raising money by taking part in charity runs including Tough Mudder and Rat Race.

The funds have been used to purchase 11 television and DVD players to go in the private rooms at Northampton General Hospital.

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Mrs Lewis said she now wanted to take the fund-raising further by providing money, up to the value of £20, for specific items cancer patients, or their friends and family, wanted during their say in hospital.

Lorraine Lewis has completed numerous fun runs to raise money for charity JvBOR6-6_ktmg0xPe7DzLorraine Lewis has completed numerous fun runs to raise money for charity JvBOR6-6_ktmg0xPe7Dz
Lorraine Lewis has completed numerous fun runs to raise money for charity JvBOR6-6_ktmg0xPe7Dz

She said: “We decided that if the patient themselves or family or friend selected an item/s that the patient wanted during their stay it would be something nice for them to look forward to.

“What The Lewis Foundation aims to do is where a patient is receiving cancer treatment at Northampton General Hospital either the patient or their family or friends can contact us to request an item/s up to the value of £20.

“These item/s can be whatever the patient, their family or friends feel would provide comfort and happiness to a patient whilst on the ward. This could be assistance with parking for family, new pyjamas, books, radio, massage etc.”

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People in Northampton are being asked to support The Lewis Foundation by taking part in the Fun Colour Run in Northampton on July 24 or the Comic Con 5k run in Birmingham on August 7.

Mrs Lewis said she is looking to create a team to run in the events and can offer discounted entry fees in exchange for raising a minimum amount of sponsorship per person in return.

For more information go to www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk/

Related topics:NorthamptonThe Lewis Foundation