Theatre walk will honour memory of courageous young actor who died at age of 18
FAMILY RAISING FUNDS FOR RAINBOWS AND ARTS TRUST IN HIS NAME
A FUND-RAISING effort is being organised in honour of an “incredible young man” who died from a rare form of cancer.
Actor and student Lewis Sewell, of Castle Donington, was described as “courageous and resilient”. He died while in hospice care last August, aged just 18.
His mum, Gillian, said: “He had various treatments and chemotherapy and we almost lost him a couple of times. But he was a fighter.
“An incredible young man. He was courageous and resilient.”
His family are now taking part in a walk to honour Lewis. They will walk between theatres in the East Midlands and are asking people to join them virtually.
It will raise funds for Loughborough’s Rainbows and the Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust, which will help young people in the arts industry.
In February 2020, Lewis, a student at Bilborough College in Nottingham, was diagnosed with a malignant metastatic rhabdoid tumour, a type of cancer usually found in young children.
Just five months after his diagnosis, Lewis and his family were told his cancer was terminal and “nothing more could be done”.
It was at this point they were told about the services of Rainbows hospice for children and young people. Gillian said: “He passed away less than four weeks later.
“None of us wanted to go to Rainbows. That word: hospice.
“It signified end of life and Lewis was adamant he wanted to pass at home. However, we hadn’t met Rainbows at that time.
“At Rainbows we could do so much. We swam in the hydrotherapy pool and we could all stay overnight together and be a family, unlike in hospital. That is what Rainbows did for us. They stopped us being carers and allowed us to be a family.”
In his final few weeks, Lewis managed to tick things off his bucket list such as going for a weekend away with his friends, getting his A-level results, meeting the Prime Minister at Downing Street, having afternoon tea with the Australian ambassador and flying in a private jet.
He also received a poem from War Horse author Michael Morpurgo. “The day Lewis got his outstanding A-level results, he got up, got dressed, did a TV interview and celebrated with his family and friends. But as the day came to a close, he was in so much pain and the agony was starting to show,” said Gillian.
“We knew at that point he was declining.
“We phoned Rainbows and they opened their doors and took us in and, oh my, the care and support we got was incredible. We felt safe and supported.
“Lewis’ pain got worse and he was given medication.
“He was lying in his bed, relaxing and peaceful. If we had been at home, it would have been a disaster.”
“In the end, it was very rapid,” said Gillian. “Myself, Ian, Matt and Matt’s girlfriend, Izzy, were with him as well as our priest, Fr Joe, and a Rainbows nurse. We were able, as were his extended family, to tell him we loved him so much and we didn’t want him in any pain and that we wanted him to be in a better place. He just lay back on his bed having watched himself on the news, and receiving a message from Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and went to sleep.
“Lewis died the same day 23 years after his brother, Mark, who was stillborn. He chose to go on the same day as his brother. He told his dad if he could, that would be what he would do as he only wanted us to have to grieve on one day.
“Rainbows allowed us to have a beautiful death. Nothing was too much trouble and nothing felt like a process. The thoughtfulness was amazing. We had our own private space and the family were all able to come and we all just thanked God for Rainbows.
“The whole family felt they could grieve and be in the moment. Even when we were leaving, we were told to just come back if we needed to and to know that we could go back, gave us the strength to go home.”
His family are fundraising in his memory by walking between theatres in the East Midlands – 18 miles a day.
Walk for Lewis: 18 miles for 18 years, will take place from May 24 to May 28.
Gillian, her husband Ian and son Matt, along with close family friends, want people to virtually join them to honour their son, brother and friend. The walk will raise funds for Rainbows and the Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust – which will help young people in the arts industry.
To get involved, visit:
An incredible young man. He was courageous and resilient
Mum Gillian