We need cancer support at any age says Northampton charity
The Lewis Foundation is the Northampton Mayors chosen charity this year
A Northampton charity are telling us the difference it means to them to have been chosen as the new Northampton mayors chosen charity this year.
The Lewis Foundation was set up 8 years ago to support adults going through cancer treatment in hospital, with gifts and support.
Co-founder and CEO Lorraine Lewis started the charity when he mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. At the same time a younger family member was also going through treatment. On hospital visits she saw compared to younger cancer suffers, support for adults was often lacking:
"On the children's wards, there'll be lots of gifts and visits and entertainment, and then we went to the adult walls. There were nothing. So we just brought, just because you're an adult, it doesn't mean you still don't need some support."
The Lewis Foundation providing a choice of gift to adults in hospital. Lorraine says it's often things like overnight pack with toiletries or underwear or something as simple as a book to pass the time.
"For us it was about doing things that we could bring some comfort and joy to people whilst they're going through a difficult time but also spending time with people so they know they're not alone and supported."
They've also grown from helping patients in hospitals in Northamptonshire, to seventeen hospitals across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire.
Lorraine says finding out they were the Mayors chosen charity has been a big boost:
"It was incredible news. I mean, with a very small charity in comparison to some of the larger council organisations. So when we found out for us it was, it was amazing because it helps to really spread the word about who we are and what we do and get more people to get on board with our mission to make a difference because often it's quite difficult for people to understand the impact that giving something as simple as a gift and your time can make to somebody."
From a small charity working from Lorraine and husband Lee's home, packing gifts in their front room, the Lewis Foundation now has a team of around 30 volunteers. And there were people that we've met along our journey. They now have a community cafe and a charity shop in the Grove in the shopping centre.