Northampton, 11th April, 2025 – The Lewis Foundation marked a major milestone on Thursday evening as it celebrated raising an incredible £1.2 million since 2016. The figure was revealed during a special event held at the newly launched Link Café at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, an event that also marked nine years of the charity’s inspiring work.
Over 100 guests gathered on Thursday 10th April to reflect on the Foundation’s remarkable journey and its growing impact across the region. Since its inception, The Lewis Foundation has been on a mission to bring comfort and joy to adult cancer patients, and now hand-delivers over 2,000 free gift packs every month to patients undergoing treatment at 17 hospitals.
In late 2024, the charity expanded its reach by taking over the café at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, a warm and welcoming community hub where every purchase helps fund the Foundation’s vital work. Thursday’s event also served as the official launch of the café, highlighting the charity’s commitment to sustainable funding.
“We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved,” said Lorraine Lewis, co-founder and CEO of The Lewis Foundation. “It’s been a real team effort. Being able to raise an incredible £1.2 million is evidence of the community’s belief in our mission and the unwavering commitment of our army of volunteers and supporters. Last night’s event was not just a celebration of our past, but a launchpad for everything we hope to achieve in the future.”
Co-founder of The Lewis Foundation, Lee Lewis, added: “It’s always been in our hearts to help people and to give people something to look forward to when they’re in the toughest moments of their life. I remember when we had £30 in the bank and we spent it buying gifts for people, then we started getting donations and spent that, and that’s how it continued. Today marks some major milestones for our charity, but it still feels like it’s just the beginning. We have so much more to give.”
Local entrepreneur and business leader, Rachel Collar, founder of Haus of HR and Haus of Coaching, said: “Lorraine and Lee have been beacons of hope for so many, and it’s been a privilege to support their work. Their dedication continues to inspire me, and tonight has been a very special evening celebrating purpose, passion and people. The Lewis Foundation does something truly extraordinary to bring comfort, dignity and a little light during some of life’s darkest moments.”
A Deputy Lieutenant for Northamptonshire, Mrs Neelam Aggarwal-Singh, was also at the event: “I’m feeling very blessed to have been invited to mark the nine-year anniversary of The Lewis Foundation and the opening of the Link Café, which is a wonderful community space that funds the charity’s great work. Congratulations to Lorraine, Lee and the team for supporting so many adult cancer patients. They work so hard to make a real difference.”
With over 50 volunteers and hundreds of supporters, The Lewis Foundation continues to be recognised for its innovative approach to charitable work. In addition to the Link Café, the charity also operates a successful coffee shop at the Elgar Centre in Upton and a retail store in Northampton town centre, which sells new, branded items donated through the charity’s ‘Surplus Stock Appeal’.
For more information on The Lewis Foundation, visit their website here.
