The Lewis Foundation Celebrates 10 Years of Changing Lives
This April marks the 10th anniversary of The Lewis Foundation, a charity dedicated to bringing comfort, dignity and human connection to adult cancer patients through free gift packs and hospital support visits, including patients receiving treatment at Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals.
Founded in 2016 by Lorraine and Lee Lewis following their personal experience supporting Lee’s mum during cancer treatment at Northampton General Hospital, the charity began with a simple but powerful realisation. While buying small items to make her hospital stay more comfortable, the couple noticed that some patients had no visitors or loved ones able to bring essential items or small comforts. Determined to change this, they started purchasing and delivering items themselves, an act of kindness that would grow into a movement supporting thousands.
Today, The Lewis Foundation hand-delivers more than 2,000 free gift packs every month to patients receiving treatment at 17 hospitals across the Midlands. The charity now offers a range of thoughtfully curated packs containing overnight essentials, toiletries, letter-writing kits, miniature radios and other items designed to reduce loneliness and provide practical comfort during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Over the past decade, the organisation has evolved significantly, growing from a grassroots initiative into an award-winning charity and social enterprise with a wide-reaching community impact.
Alongside its hospital work, The Lewis Foundation now operates the Link Café at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, a coffee shop at the Elgar Centre in Upton and a retail outlet store in Northampton town centre supporting its Surplus Stock Appeal.
A key part of the charity’s evolution has been its commitment to inclusion and opportunity. Through initiatives such as Thrive Together, the Foundation opens its operations to individuals who often face barriers to employment or participation, offering meaningful work experience placements for young people and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Participants take on real-world roles across retail, logistics, hospitality, administration, creative projects and fundraising, building confidence and transferable skills while contributing directly to the charity’s mission.
The initiative also creates opportunities for elderly volunteers and adults living with cancer to give back, fostering purpose, connection and improved wellbeing while reducing social isolation.
To celebrate the 10-year milestone, the charity is launching a programme of special fundraising events throughout 2025, inviting supporters old and new to get involved.
Anniversary events include:
- Friday 17th April – Sip and Paint with Sophie Slade
- Saturday 9th May – International Waendal Walk
- Saturday 31st May – Northampton 10km charity run
- Saturday 6th June – 10th anniversary abseil down the iconic Northampton Lift Tower
- Sunday 13th September – Northampton Half Marathon
- Friday 14th November – Masquerade Ball at Fawsley Hall
The events are designed to celebrate the community support that has helped the charity grow over the past decade, while raising vital funds to sustain and expand its work supporting cancer patients.
Lorraine Lewis, co-founder and CEO of The Lewis Foundation, said: “Reaching our 10th anniversary is incredibly emotional for us. What started with a simple idea to make sure people didn’t feel alone or forgotten in hospital has grown into something far bigger than we ever imagined. Every gift pack delivered represents kindness from our community and this milestone is as much about our volunteers and supporters as it is about us.”
Co-founder Lee Lewis added: “When we started, we had just £30 and a determination to make a difference. Ten years later, we’re supporting thousands of patients every month and working with hospitals right across the Midlands. The anniversary events are a chance to celebrate how far we’ve come and to ensure we can continue supporting people when they need it most.”
Last year, the charity celebrated raising more than £1.2 million since its launch, highlighting the scale of community backing behind its mission. With a dedicated team of volunteers and hundreds of regular supporters, The Lewis Foundation continues to grow its impact while staying true to its founding aim: ensuring that adult cancer patients feel remembered, supported and valued.