Can you brighten the lives of cancer patients in hospital this Christmas?
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
A beloved charity is giving people in Northamptonshire the chance to show adults in hospital who have been diagnosed with cancer that they are not forgotten this Christmas.
The Lewis Foundation provides free gift packs to adults in hospital who have been diagnosed with cancer and launched its annual Christmas Gift Collection Drive on Saturday which will benefit adult cancer patients at Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital.
Individuals and businesses can make a donation at one of the charity’s six Christmas Giving Trees in Northamptonshire until Monday, December 21. Alternatively, people can support the campaign online until Thursday, December 31, by donating to the charity’s dedicated Christmas JustGiving Campaign or by buying items on its Amazon Wish List.
Lorraine Lewis, Co-Founder of The Lewis Foundation, said: “For many people, Christmas is a time to spend with loved ones, celebrate and make memories but for someone diagnosed with cancer, Christmas can look very different.
“Some patients will be spending Christmas Day in hospital, others will be attending chemotherapy or appointments, and some may be facing their last Christmas.
“Our aim is simple – to make sure that people going through cancer know they are not forgotten, especially at Christmas.”
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) Chief Nurse Robin Binks said: “The Lewis Foundation provides us with presents for our patients and their partners over the festive period and we know that is very much appreciated and is also often an unexpected and welcome surprise.
“Each year the local community are very generous in their donations and they can make a real difference, especially to patients who don’t have many family, friends or relatives to support them. They also help to generate a happy and celebratory atmosphere on our wards during the festive season.”
NGH’s Director of Nursing Joanne Smith added: “Being in hospital at Christmas, away from home and familiar traditions, can be especially hard for patients and their loved ones. The Lewis Foundation’s thoughtful gifts for patients and their partners offer a little comfort and joy, reminding them that they are cared for and not forgotten.
“We are deeply grateful to the local community for their kindness and generosity. These gifts help bring warmth and connection to our wards, supporting patients, their families and the staff caring for them throughout the festive period.”
The charity’s six Christmas Giving Trees are decorated with gift tags listing items it needs for its cancer patient gift packs. Supporters are invited to take as many tags as they like, purchase the items on the tags and then place their donations in a gift bag and return them to one of the charity’s collection locations.
The Lewis Foundation will then package the items into gift packs for hospital cancer patients.
The charity’s Christmas Giving Trees are at:
· Link Cafe in Northampton Museum and Art Gallery
· Elgar Centre in Upton
· Spencer Dallington Community Centre in Northampton
· The Lewis Foundation’s outlet store at Grosvenor Shopping Northampton and its office in Rothersthorpe Crescent in the Rothersthorpe Industrial Estate, Northampton
· Weston Favell Shopping Centre
Weston Favell Shopping Centre Manager Kevin Legg said: "After supporting The Lewis Foundation last Christmas with a donation of board games, we learned more about the fantastic work they do and wanted to continue our support.
“We're proud to include them in our Christmas Giving Tree initiative this year and hope it encourages our visitors to donate and help support those in need throughout the winter period."
To donate to The Lewis Foundation’s Christmas JustGiving Campaign visit
To see the charity’s Amazon Wish List, go to https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/PJ5KJQ6OBJZR?ref_=wl_share
For more information about supporting the work of The Lewis Foundation, visit www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk