Aim

Providing emergency care packs to adults who are in the hospital and community having cancer treatment.

At The Lewis Foundation we source, package and hand deliver free gifts and support packs to adult cancer patients in hospital every week – items they might find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford. It can be a sad, frightening and lonely experience for individuals undergoing cancer treatment, and for many people in hospital, our volunteers are their only regular visitors.

We rely on donations, fundraising support and volunteers to make a difference.

Lorraine and Lee were so moved when my mother in law was hospitalised with cancer at Northampton General Hospital that it led us to set up a charity. 

Recognising the fear, upset and loneliness faced by individuals undergoing cancer treatment and their loved ones, we were determined that our charity would make a real difference, and set about sourcing donations, and packaging and delivering gifts and support items for patients on oncology wards. That was April 2016 – when The Lewis Foundation was born. 

Today, with a team of almost 50 volunteers and hundreds of regular supporters,, The Lewis Foundation has gone from delivering 80 gift packs to one hospital, to delivering over 2,500 to six hospitals in the Midlands per month.

Patients pick from a trolley filled with 27 different packs, with no limit to what they can have, and no donations taken in return. 

Packs contain overnight essentials and toiletries, letter-writing kits, hydration supplies, puzzles, miniature radios complete with batteries and headphones, and lots, lots more – items many people in hospital might find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford. 

For some individuals receiving cancer treatment, The Lewis Foundation volunteers are their only regular visitors. 

Growing demand and new goals Juggling our full-time jobs to run the charity in our spare time, we are finding there is a growing demand for The Lewis Foundation services as we move  into our fourth year. We are constantly approached by hospitals as NHS resources are continually stretched, and their new aspiration is to help even more people – not just in the East Midlands but nationwide. 

Emergency Cancer Care Packs

As a result of Covid19, adults who are having cancer treatment are required to self -isolate at home for a period of 12 weeks. For those staying in hospital receiving treatment, they do not have family or friends to bring in things people need as visitors are no longer allowed on the ward. 

This stops people going without vital items they need that are benefit to their physical and mental wellbeing. It also contains items that people cannot source or afford due to not being able to work.

Our emergency packs are all for free and include:

Hand Sanitiser, Anti-bacterial wipes, Anti- bacterial hand wash, toiletries and toilet tissue.

They are delivered to the hospitals we support to be distributed by the nurses and for the ones in the community they are delivered to the door by our volunteers.

Feedback we have received: 

I had a late appointment in oncology and feeling very unwell. After tests I was admitted to the ward. I had nothing with me. Thanks to your charity I was handed an overnight bag
With the vital things in it just to clean my teeth ,I was so grateful. It is a 30 mile round trip for my family to bring things in ,so overnight that bag was so my life savour. I am at home now the news is not good. The cancer is back and the future looks a bit grim but I will always remember the kindness of your charity and of course the staff at Northampton General Hospital.

Margaret Impey

Thank you again so much. I didnt think we would be in this situation and being isolated it's very un nerving at the min.  I just want to say It's a wonderful thing your doing and for your support and I'm very very grateful thank you all so much.

Zoe Richardson

Just wanted to say thankyou so much for the emergency bag you kindly delivered to me tonight it was very much appreciated.  You do an amazing thing for others, your generosity is incredible.

Mandy Inwood

You really do amazing work!! My Mum is having treatment at NGH and that little white bag brings a smile to her face every time she has chemo. Thank you for all you do, it really does make a huge difference

Tracey Cosford

As you can see from the feedback, it does make a difference and our beneficiaries need our support now more than ever during this time of crisis.

This project successfully funded on 22nd April 2020