Charity co-founder shares proudest achievement of 2024 – as they continue to battle cost of living crisis
An admirable charity co-founder has shared her organisation’s proudest achievement of the year so far, as the team continues to battle with the challenges of the cost of living crisis.
The Lewis Foundation was founded by Lorraine and Lee Lewis, and they celebrated its eighth anniversary back in April.
The organisation plays an important role across the Midlands, by providing free gift packs and support to adults going through cancer treatment in the region’s hospitals. The main aim is to ensure patients do not feel alone.
The need for the charity emerged when Lee’s mother was diagnosed with the cruel disease, and it opened the pair’s eyes to what people went through during treatment.
It has continued to expand and they now run two stores and a coffee shop – which people can visit and make purchases from to support their vital work.
One of the shops is located at the heart of the town in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, and the coffee shop is based at The Elgar Centre in Upton.
When asked to sum up how 2024 has been so far, Lorraine said: “We’ve been adapting to overcome the challenges of the cost of living crisis. We know it’s hard for people to donate and fundraise in the way they used to.”
Their main focus has been obtaining the surplus stock of businesses, which is either sold in their two stores or put into the gift packs for the cancer patients to enjoy.
It is also important to Lorraine and Lee that everything they sell is at an affordable price, so it is accessible to the public during the cost of living crisis.
The team’s proudest achievement of the year so far is opening their second store in Luton Point Shopping Centre back in May.
Having supported the centre director’s wife when she received treatment six years ago, he wanted to support and give back to The Lewis Foundation.
On the flip side, talking about the challenges faced over the past eight months, Lorraine spoke of the decline in donations and fundraising – which has hit the entire charity sector.
As people need the support of The Lewis Foundation now more than ever, they have had to think outside the box about how to build sufficient funds to sustain their work.
“Purchasing a coffee or an item from our shop makes a huge difference,” said Lorraine. “It helps us consistently provide packs to patients, full of quality and full-size products. We couldn’t do it without people donating, fundraising and making purchases.”
The team is gearing up for its annual Christmas hamper campaign, in which members of the public nominate someone they know going through cancer treatment.
£45 sponsorship from a business will cover the cost of one hamper, and The Lewis Foundation then turns up at the recipient’s door as a festive surprise. This lets them know the community is thinking of them at this difficult time.
The team also looks forward to their second gala at Fawsley Hall on November 9, which is in memory of 45-year-old James Ward. He sadly passed away earlier this year following a six-year cancer battle.