Virtual walk in memory of Lewis

The family of an 18-year-old who died from a rare form of cancer are asking people to take on a virtual charity walk in his memory.

In February 2020, Lewis Sewell, of Castle Donington, was diagnosed with a Malignant Metastatic Rhabdoid Tumour, a type of cancer which is usually found in young children. Just five months after his diagnosis, his family were told what he had was terminal and nothing more could be done. Lewis, a student at Bilborough College and an inspiring actor, died at our hospice on August 15 2020.

Next month, a group of eight people, made up of Lewis’ family and friends plus representatives from YMCA Scotland and YMCA Germany, will walk 73 miles along Hadrian’s Wall in six days. Lewis’ parents, Gillian and Ian, and brother Matt, would like people to join them in spirit by taking on the challenge virtually.

All money raised from the trek from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway, and the virtual walk, will go to our charity and the Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust.

“Fundraising in someone’s memory is a truly special way to mark their life, while helping others in need at the same time,” said Gillian.

“We know there are people out there who want to support us and can’t actually walk Hadrian’s Wall with us. So we would like to invite them to take part virtually between 7 and 15 May, walking any distance they are able to. At the end of the week we will calculate how many times we have collectively walked the distance of Hadrian’s Wall together.

“Lewis was an incredible young man who lived by the values of positivity, courage and resilience who was driven to be part of the acting fraternity. Once he realised his life was to be cut short he set out to ensure other young people would benefit in his name and not be blocked from doing something they loved purely because of financial barriers. We therefore do this in Lewis’s memory to ensure his legacy of helping others lives on.”

During May 2021 Lewis’s friends and family took part in the Walk for Lewis – 18 miles for 18 years. The money raised helped us with our funding to be able to continue providing vital care to those families who need it the most. And the Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust was able to award grants to four young people in the East Midlands to apply and audition for theatre schools and courses.

And earlier this month, Alasdair Buck took on the Manchester Marathon and raised £1,795 for both charities. Alasdair, of Nottingham, is a personal trainer and became friends with Lewis when Lewis was training for his Duke of Edinburgh award in 2019.

People don’t need to sign up to the challenge but need to email the total miles walked to [email protected] by 20 May 2022.