This October, Cheri Lewis, current FNF scholar and Senior Midwifery Information Officer at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, will be 1,271 feet above New York City, on the outside of a skyscraper, aiming to raise £13,750 for the Florence Nightingale Foundation. The challenge is called ‘The Climb to Light the Way for Future Leaders’ and it’s about far more than height. In this blog Cheri talks about her challenge and how the FNF Scholarship has changed her life.
My FNF Journey and the ‘Climb by Lamplight’ Challenge
“This past year, I have been fortunate enough to be awarded a place on the Florence Nightingale Foundation’s Emerging Strategic Leadership Scholarship – an experience that has quite literally changed my life. Over the course of the year, I have led a national project to tackle digital exclusion in maternity care, connected with senior leaders across health and care, and developed my confidence and skills as a digital leader.
The scholarship has given me the courage to step forward and lead significant change, championing work to ensure that no woman is left behind because of digital poverty. It has opened doors I never imagined possible and transformed how I see myself as a leader. On 5th October, I will travel to Boston and New York to explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being applied in healthcare systems – an extraordinary opportunity that I simply would not have had without the support of the scholarship.
Because this experience has been so life-changing, I am passionate about “paying it forward” so that another nurse, midwife, or allied health professional can benefit in future. To do that, I am taking on the Climb by Lamplight challenge this autumn. This chllenge will see me climb New York’s City Climb – the highest open-air ascent in the world – suspended 1,200 feet above the streets of Manhattan. The theme of the challenge is inspired by Florence Nightingale’s iconic lamp, symbolising her tireless work to bring light, safety, and hope to patients.
Reflecting on this past year, I am more determined than ever to use my learning to make a difference – and I would love for others to experience the same.
“The scholarship hasn’t just been a professional development opportunity – it has completely changed how I see myself, my future, and what is possible. It has given me the skills, confidence, and courage to take on challenges I would never have believed myself capable of. Climb by Lamplight is my way of saying thank you – and ensuring another future leader has the same chance to grow and shine.”
If you’d like to support my fundraising efforts, please visit my JustGiving page. Every donation brings us closer to funding another scholarship place and helping another leader light the way for the future of health and care.”
