The Lewis Foundation is seeking more logistics partners after delivery support from Amazon and Northampton-based Specialist Fleet Services helped it save more than £3,200 a year and four days of travelling each month.
The charity, which provides free gift packs to adults receiving cancer treatment in hospital, says the partnerships remove around 534 miles of monthly journeys for staff and volunteers.
It puts the resulting fuel saving at £267 a month, or £3,204 annually, equivalent to the cost of providing 890 gift packs.
Specialist Fleet Services (SFS), a contract hire and fleet management provider, supports deliveries to Nottingham City Hospital, Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham and Leicester Royal Infirmary. Amazon helps deliver packs to several hospitals across the East of England and East Midlands.
The Lewis Foundation now wants other logistics businesses to provide free delivery support to hospital partners, including Lincoln County Hospital, Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Royal Stoke University Hospital, Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Watford General Hospital.
Lorraine Lewis, co-founder of The Lewis Foundation, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Amazon and SFS for helping us with our hospital deliveries. The time and money we save through these partnerships makes a real difference to a charity like ours.
“Saving four days of travelling every month gives us more time to focus on what matters most: supporting people going through cancer treatment. The £3,204 we save each year is equivalent to 890 gift packs, each one offering comfort, distraction and a reminder to a patient that they are not alone. We cannot thank our partners enough for helping us make our resources go further.”
Patients can choose from packs containing practical essentials, toiletries, puzzles and creative activities, designed to offer comfort and distraction during treatment.
Amanda Adcock-Worthy, head of Amazon Local Good at Amazon, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting The Lewis Foundation by helping deliver its much-needed gift packs to patients receiving cancer treatment in hospitals across the region. We know that reliable deliveries can make a real difference to charities working with limited resources, and we’re proud that our support is helping the Foundation save valuable time and money so it can focus on the people who need it most.”
SFS managing director Bob Sweetland said: “We’re delighted to be working with The Lewis Foundation and supporting the important work it does for cancer patients and their families. By helping with deliveries to hospitals in Nottingham and Leicester, we’re taking some of the pressure off the charity’s logistics and freeing up valuable time and resources. It’s rewarding to know that our support is helping the Foundation reach more patients with its thoughtful gift packs.”
Lorraine and Lee Lewis founded the charity in April 2016 after Lee’s mother was admitted to hospital with cancer. It began by delivering 80 gift packs a month to one hospital before expanding its support across the Midlands and beyond.
Companies interested in providing delivery support can email hello@thelewisfoundation.co.uk. Further information is available at thelewisfoundation.co.uk.
Pictured from left: Lorraine Lewis, SFS managing director Bob Sweetland and Lee Lewis.
