Brave supporters take on 400ft abseil for The Lewis Foundation
A group of brave fundraisers have raised almost £4,000 for The Lewis Foundation after taking on a 400ft abseil inside Northampton’s iconic National Lift Tower.
The charity supporters had originally expected to abseil down the outside of the tower, but poor weather meant the challenge had to be moved indoors. Undeterred, the group still faced a dramatic 400ft descent inside one of Northampton’s most recognisable landmarks, raising an incredible £3,929.86 to support adult cancer patients in hospital.
The money raised will help The Lewis Foundation continue to provide free gifts and support packs to people receiving cancer treatment in 17 hospitals across the Midlands and East of England.
Among those taking part were The Lewis Foundation staff members Bethan Kiff and Chloe Swift, alongside Gemma Young, Derek Mackenzie, Emma White, Bradley Malcolm, Sarah Barnard and Danni Colborn.
They were joined by Poppi Watts, Macie Johnson and Ella Devey from Bewiched in Moulton Park; Suzy Sanders from Alchemy Virtual Assistance UK, and Mukesh Patel, Rebecca Chapman and Tracey Gleeson, all from Specsavers in Abington Street, Northampton.
Lorraine Lewis, CEO and Co-Founder of The Lewis Foundation, said: “We’re so grateful to every single person who took part in the abseil and helped raise such a fantastic amount for The Lewis Foundation. Abseiling 400ft is a huge challenge at the best of times, but when the weather changed the plans and meant the team had to take on the descent inside the tower instead, they showed real courage and determination.
“The money raised will make a real difference to the adult cancer patients we support every week. Every gift pack we deliver is a reminder to someone in hospital that they are not alone, and it’s only possible because of the kindness and generosity of people like this amazing group.”
One of the brave abseilers, Suzy Sanders, owner of Alchemy Virtual Assistance UK, said: ‘I absolutely faced my fears undertaking this challenge. Despite the change of plans, we were all determined to make the best of it to support the wonderful work carried out by The Lewis Foundation Team. I’m so proud of all of us and so very pleased that we were able to raise this much money as a team.”
The Lewis Foundation was founded in 2016 by Lorraine and Lee Lewis after they experienced first-hand how lonely and difficult hospital stays can be during cancer treatment. What started as a small, part-time initiative delivering 80 gift packs a month to one hospital has grown into a full-time charity providing more than 2,500 free gift packs every month to 17 hospitals across the Midlands and East of England.
Patients can choose from a wide range of packs containing thoughtful, practical and comforting items such as overnight essentials, toiletries, craft kits, puzzles, letter-writing kits and miniature radios with batteries and headphones.
For anyone who would like to support The Lewis Foundation through fundraising, volunteering or donating, please email [email protected] or visit www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk.