The Lewis Foundation offers hope

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CHARITY OFFERS PATIENTS HOPE

Award-winning cancer support charity The Lewis Foundation has used the latest lockdown to focus on planning for the future and supporting more patients than ever before.

Lorraine and Lee Lewis launched the charity in April 2016, and began sourcing, packaging and hand delivering free gifts and support packs, called ‘Bags of Hope’ to adult cancer patients at Northampton General Hospital, Three Shires and Kettering General Hospital every week. Each bag contains items patients might find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford.

As the charity’s fifth birthday approaches, its appealing for more support and help to fund its gift bags.

Lorraine explained: “Since we launched, we’ve distributed more than 63,000 gift packs to 10 hospitals in Luton, Milton Keynes, Nottingham and Northamptonshire. Our focus this year is on sustainability – making sure we’re here for years to come. “

The charity is appealing to businesses to help them pay for and source all the products they need for their gift packs, which cost an average of £3.50 each. The packs range from arts and crafts to pamper packs, sweets, and activities, with the contents ranging from colouring books and puzzles to letter writing sets, hand cream, books and magazines. The Lewis Foundation is also seeking storage, with its own entrance. This space is for storing donations, gift packs, a marquee and to provide somewhere for volunteers to make up the packs. It is also seeking a contribution towards the running costs of its van which comes to about £550 a month. In exchange for help, The Lewis Foundation will promote supporters through press releases,

‘OUR FOCUS blogs, and social media campaigns THIS YEAR IS ON and by using supporters’ logos on SUSTAINABILITY their website. – MAKING SURE The charity has won many WE’RE HERE FOR YEARS TO COME’ accolades including, in 2020, a British Citizen Award, ‘Rising Star’ at the East Midlands Charity Awards and Points of Light award, awarded by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Lorraine and Lee Lewis with Lee’s mum Janice (centre)

Email: thelewisfoundation@outlook.com

MAKING THE MOST OF MEMBERSHIP

Joining the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce has given one businesswoman even more focus for 2021 - as the demand for Virtual Assistant services continues to skyrocket.

Alchemy Virtual Assistance (VA) executive hub manager Sarah Damani has seen a record number of client enquiries from a variety of businesses, with numbers across the wider Alchemy VA group having quadrupled since Covid19 hit.

Sarah’s thriving Wellingborough VA Hub has been bringing calm to the chaos during this extraordinary period by providing remote administration services, marketing and flexible PA support to entrepreneurs and business owners countywide and beyond.

Her dynamic team of handpicked, high calibre virtual assistants are helping her manage the increasing workload, but she has big plans for 2021 – and making the most of her Chamber membership is at the top of the list.

“I set up my franchise with the award-winning Alchemy VA family just 14 months ago and with Covid-19 it’s been a whirlwind,” said Sarah, who also renovated a tailor-made home office space last Autumn and left her secure job as a business advisor to focus entirely on growing her Alchemy VA franchise.

‘I CAN’T WAIT TO START WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH Alchemy VA Hub manager Sarah Damani LOTS OF with her team of virtual assistants CHAMBER

MEMBERS’ “Joining the Chamber was always my plan. Chamber members and Northamptonshire business owners deserve the headspace to do the work they love during this challenging time, especially as many are working harder than ever to get back on track – but they don’t have to do it alone. “As VAs we have connections and expertise across a diverse range of sectors. I can’t wait to start working more closely with lots of Chamber members and helping even more businesses streamline and organise their admin.”

Visit: www.alchemyva.co.uk