Wingham has a huge heart

And if you have stepped foot into Coles at Wingham Plaza, you have probably seen a donation trolley with the big pink sign on the front.

Sky and Luke Lewis are a young, quiet and unassuming couple who are parents to six small children, three boys and three girls, the eldest being only eight years-old. The couple always wanted a large family, and their life revolves around their children.

In July this year, Sky was diagnosed with breast cancer. It had spread into the lymph nodes in her neck and was heading toward her brain.

She was breast feeding when she was diagnosed, and didn’t have time to wean her baby before she was rushed in to surgery to have a double mastectomy.

Sky turned 28 only last Friday, November 6.

Two days before, she was told that the cancer had metastasised into her skin, and it was only a matter of time before it would pop up in her brain, bones, lungs, or liver.

When Sky was diagnosed, Luke had to resign from work so he could stay home and look after their children.

Unfortunately Luke somehow sustained a back injury and now has two bulging discs in his lumbar spine and is unable to work at all.

Luke is a cement renderer, and was about to go for his licence when their world came tumbling down around them.

He had to cancel his plans.

“I had to cancel everything.” Luke said.

“Family’s first.”

Thankfully, Luke works for his father, so will have a job when he finally recovers.

But right now, the family is in desperate need of help and have a very long and extremely difficult physical, emotional, and psychological road ahead of them.

The people of Wingham are showing their big hearts and compassionate generosity.

Immediately on hearing the devastating news, staff from Cuddlepie Early Childhood Centre, where some of the Lewis children attend, got to work to help Sky and Luke pay their rent and bills.

The decision was made for Cuddlepie to auspice the fundraising activities to meet legal requirements, and they didn’t waste any time.

Courtney Hannon, Sue Manewell and Maureen Shilling have thrown their hearts into their mission to help.

A bank account is open to accept financial donations.

Sue contacted Jackie Latimore from Coles at Wingham Plaza and asked if Coles would mind being a drop-off point for donations for groceries.

So far, four trolley loads of groceries have been given to the Lewises.

And now Coles are putting out a new trolley each week in the lead up to Christmas for to help them through the holidays.

In addition to this, Courtney and her mother have spent hours diligently making up the donation boxes and leaving them at local stores and businesses.

Cuddlepie also held a raffle, with big prizes such as a barbecue that was donated by Masters, which was drawn on Sky’s birthday.

The raffle raised $1179.

Sky and Luke are completely overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of the district, and the hard work done by the Cuddlepie staff.

They also wanted it known that Mike Levine, of Chapman and Wood, has gone out of his way to help, arranging financial help from Vinnies for their pharmacy bills, and delivering medication out of hours.

And members of the local junior rugby league club, where Luke has been a coach for the past eight years, have helped out with fuel vouchers.

The relief, gratitude and humility that Sky and Luke feel is evident not only in their words, but their eyes and their body language.

However, their financial situation is not going to get any better in the foreseeable future and much more help is needed.

In addition to the drop off points already mentioned, you can also donate by depositing funds directly into the fundraising bank account with the following details: Commonwealth Bank Wingham, a/c name Sky and Luke Lewis, BSB 062-623, a/c number 10156641.

You can keep up to date with Sky’s treatment progress by joining the Sky Lewis Fundraiser Facebook group.