After raising over £20,000 for charity through his '20 in 25' fundraising challenge, a local boxer is back for year two of his fundraising journey in 2026 with his next challenge – '20 in 26'.

Last year, Lewis Williams, a professional boxer born and raised in Leamington Spa fundraised £20,823 for Myton Hospice.

This time, he is aiming to raise a further £20,000 to support the vital care provided by The Myton Hospices, bringing Lewis one step closer to his remarkable pledge to raise £1 million for Myton throughout his career.

Last year alone, Myton supported over 2,000 people and their families in Coventry and Warwickshire – whether at home, in their Inpatient Units in Warwick and Coventry, or through their Wellbeing Services.

He shared: "They (Myton) provide all of this care free of charge. But they're not part of the NHS – they're a charity, and they need to raise over £12.7 million this year just to keep going. So I've set myself an ambitious goal – to raise £1 million for Myton throughout my career.

"Last year, with your incredible support, we raised £20,823 through my '20 in 25' challenge. I honestly couldn't have asked for more.

"So in 2026, we go again!I'm launching '20 in 26' – a new challenge to raise £20,000 for The Myton Hospices as part of my long-term pledge to raise £1 million for Myton throughout my career.

"And I would love you to be part of it."

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Lewis, a gold medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, began his association with The Myton Hospices in 2023, when his late father, Bob, began receiving care from the charity's Home team.

He shared: "My family and I were fortunate to experience the very best of what Myton offers our community, and if I can help more people access their support, then I have done something right."

In 2020, Lewis' father, Bob, was diagnosed with a lung and heart condition, leading his health to deteriorate. 

Lewis (left) and his late father (Bob) (images via Lewis Williams)

At the time, Lewis was set to prepare by training for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with an upcoming tournament that could pave his way to the Olympics.

Lewis' father's condition worsened in late 2023, leading the Myton at Home team to visit three times a day, caring for him in his home in his last month with the family. 

Lewis shared: "The Myton team were brilliant with dad and they couldn't have made it any easier for us or him at what was an incredibly difficult and emotional time, they provided real dignity and they have hearts of gold. 

"The standard of care they showed my dad and us as our family was exemplary and nothing like any of us had experienced before."

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As his dad's condition began to deteriorate, Lewis decided to pull out of his upcoming tournament to spend time with him.

Sadly, Bob died in January 2024, aged 71, surrounded by his loved ones. 

""I was able to dedicate proper time to him because I knew it was precious and running out. Of course, it was horrible, but we spent it as best as we could, together" said Lewis.

"Boxing rules your life, you miss birthdays, weddings and funerals, training is everything. Whilst it was a hard decision in some ways to miss the Olympics, for me it was a no-brainer – I'll always have a career, but I will only get one dad. I owe my boxing journey to my dad, he was the one who took me out of Scouts and into the boxing gym, and he was an inspiration even when he was very ill."

Now Lewis is aiming to boost last year's target by double, sharing "I will stop at nothing to do it – it's an honour to give back."

To donate to Lewis' fundraiser, visit  here.