Northamptonshire charity delivering 'Bags of Hope' to hospitals appeal for help ahead of fifth birthday

The duo behind award winning cancer support charity The Lewis Foundation are using this year’s Covid lockdown to plan for the future and supporting more patients than ever before.

For five years, Northampton couple Lorraine and Lee Lewis have been sourcing, packaging and hand delivering free gifts and support packs to adult cancer patients in hospitals.

The 'Bags of Hope" are made of items patients might find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford.

Now, after years of helping wards on Northampton General Hospital, Three Shires and Kettering General Hospital every week, the couple are focusing on the future so they can be here to stay.

Lorraine explained: “Hospital can be a sad, frightening, and lonely experience for cancer patients – especially during COVID.

"Since we launched, we have distributed more than 63,000 gift packs, which we call ‘Bags of Hope’, to 10 hospitals in Luton, Milton Keynes, Nottingham and of course Northamptonshire.

“Our focus this year is on sustainability – making sure we are here for years to come.”

For this reason, Lorraine and Lee are now appealing for support from local businesses to cover costs such as:

- Website design support – the charity created its own website five years ago and is now looking to create a clean, slicker one – less words, and an easy user journey. All the content is written, and photos gathered. A new website is now top of the wish list.

- Storage – the charity needs circa 1,500sq ft of storage (for donations, gift packs, its marquee, and a space for volunteers to make up the packs) and it must have its own secure entrance. Currently they pay more than £900/month. Can anyone help?

- A contribution towards its van and insurance £550/month. The van is proving increasingly essential as the duo now deliver packs and visit patients across the country.

In exchange for all donations and offers of help, The Lewis Foundation is pledging to thank all supporters by writing press releases, including company logos on their website, writing blogs and running social media campaigns.

Lee explained: “When we first launched The Lewis Foundation, we had no idea how big we would become, how many people would need us and how much positive reactions we would have, not just from patients and their families, but also from the Charity Commission, and our local communities. We want to keep growing and to continue helping more people. More importantly we want to make sure we are future-proof and are here for many, many years to come. That is why we are making this appeal. “

The Lewis Foundation was initially inspired by Lee’s mum, who underwent years of treatment before finally being declared cancer free in 2016. Lee and wife Lorraine recognised a need for patient support, hence the launch of their charity which has won many accolades … including, in 2020, a highly prestigious British Citizen Award, ‘Rising Star’ at the East Midlands Charity Awards and Points of Light award, awarded by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.