Leadership has always been redefined by the leaders who devote their lives and careers to a noble cause. Recognized for his deep commitment to the non-profit and social impact sectors, Hedley Lewis had an inspiring career.

Today, as the CEO of CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa, his inspiration is rooted in the belief that leadership is a commitment to people, to purpose, and to progress. “It’s about building strong teams, nurturing partnerships, embracing innovation, and never losing sight of why we do this work,” states Hedley Lewis, whose journey into leadership has been deeply shaped by the lessons he’s learned through purpose-driven work. Early in his career, during his time with the Vodacom Foundation, Hedley Lewis saw firsthand how partnerships can truly transform lives.

That experience solidified his desire to lead an organisation that could deliver life-changing support to those who need it most.  At the heart of effective leadership is the ability to build strong, trust-based relationships with stakeholders, listen actively, understand community needs, and work collectively toward a common goal.

What inspired Hedley Lewis to take on the leadership role at CHOC was a deep personal desire to use his professional experience to serve a greater purpose. “The work CHOC does to support children and teenagers with cancer or a life-threatening blood disorder, as well as their families, resonated with me on a profound level. I was especially moved by the strength and resilience of these young individuals, as well as the complex challenges their families face. I knew that if I could bring my leadership and strategic skills to an organisation like CHOC, I could help drive lasting impact.”

Hedley Lewis understood that leadership is not about titles or authority; it’s about empowering others. It’s about fostering an environment where people feel seen, heard, and valued. One of the most powerful lessons he’s learned came from embracing the spirit of Sawubona, the Zulu greeting that means ‘I see you. “It reminds me to acknowledge every individual for who they are and the contribution they bring.”

His leadership style is grounded in openness, listening, and shared goals. He doesn’t have all the answers but believes in asking the right questions, listening carefully to the challenges his team faces, and navigating those challenges together. The leader who doesn’t listen can only go so far. True success is built on trust, mutual respect, and continuous learning, he emphasizes.

From Humanitarian Halls to CHOC’s Heartbeat: A Journey of Purpose-Driven Leadership

Hedley Lewis’s leadership journey is shaped by a rich mosaic of experiences across various humanitarian and development organisations. Each chapter of his career offered not just skills, but perspective on people, partnerships, and purpose. “Every organisation I’ve worked with gave me unique insights,” Hedley Lewis reflects, “and each mentor and management structure helped me grow in different ways.”

His roles exposed him to diverse governance models, strategic partnerships, and sector-specific dynamics, knowledge he now brings to CHOC with clarity and conviction. His ability to engage meaningfully with stakeholders like the World Health Organisation and government entities is grounded in years of navigating complex networks. “Fundraising strategies may vary,” he says, “but the heart of the work, building trust and driving impact, remains the same.”

Perhaps most profoundly, his work taught him how to advocate for the unheard and empower those who are overlooked. From forming meaningful civil society connections to amplifying the stories of children and families facing cancer, Hedley Lewis has learned that real leadership lies in deep engagement. “This journey,” he adds, “has fueled my resolve to ensure CHOC reaches every child who needs us.”

Uniting a Village: CHOC’s Mission to Heal Beyond Medicine

Under Hedley’s visionary leadership, CHOC continues to stand as a pillar of hope for children and teenagers battling cancer and life-threatening blood disorders. Its mission is clear, supporting children and teens with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders, and their families; improving early detection and augmenting effective treatment. Hedley Lewis describes CHOC not simply as an organisation, but as a bridge that connects hearts, hands, and systems: “It takes a village to treat a child or teenager, not just medically, but emotionally and practically.”

With a strong belief in collaborative impact, Hedley Lewis ensures CHOC remains deeply rooted in partnerships, locally and globally. His roles on the boards of Childhood Cancer International and Childhood Cancer Africa reflect his commitment to strengthening collective action. “True change only happens when we unify with purpose,” he says.

To stay aligned with its mission, CHOC integrates clinical knowledge with the lived experiences of patients and families. By working hand-in-hand with NGOs, alliances, and government bodies, CHOC not only avoids duplication but maximizes every opportunity to make a life-saving difference, one child, one family, one future at a time.

Leading with Heart: The Values That Steer CHOC Forward

At the helm of CHOC, Hedley Lewisleads with a compass grounded in compassion, integrity, resilience, and collaboration. In an environment where families are often facing the most emotionally intense moments of their lives, he emphasizes that “compassion is more than empathy,it’s the act of showing up, of standing beside them when the road is toughest.” This ideology is reflected in the vision of CHOC:“All children and teens with cancer or life-threatening blood disorders have comprehensive access to care and support.”

Hedley Lewis leadership thrives on connection. He believes that true impact is collective: “The challenges we face are too complex for any one organisation to solve alone.” Collaboration, he asserts, opens doors to resources, innovation, and sustainable support.

Resilience, a value shaped by years of purpose-driven work, keeps him steady through uncertainty. Ethics, meanwhile, remain non-negotiable. In Hedley Lewis’s words, “When people place their trust in us, we must honor it with transparency and respect.”

Above all, he is a strategic leader balancing immediate needs with a long-term vision to ensure that CHOC’s impact continues to grow, with integrity at every step.

Where Compassion Meets Courage: Stories That Define CHOC’s Mission

Throughout his leadership at CHOC, Hedley Lewis has witnessed countless moments of courage, transformation, and hope but few as deeply moving as the story of Xichavo. “His journey captures the essence of why CHOC exists,” Hedley Lewis shares. “It’s about meeting families at their most vulnerable and walking the road with them no matter how difficult.”

Xichavo, a young boy diagnosed with osteosarcoma shortly after the death of his mother, became the head of a child-headed household, responsible for his two younger siblings. Faced with overwhelming responsibility and a life-threatening diagnosis, his world was filled with uncertainty. Initially reluctant to leave his siblings, Xichavo was eventually persuaded to stay at CHOC’s Diepkloof House, a decision that changed his life.

“There, he found a home, not just a shelter,” Hedley Lewis recounts. The CHOC community rallied around him with unconditional support. From house supervisor Zotha Ngobese to social worker Lawrence Mbuyane, the entire team ensured that Xichavo and his siblings had everything they needed, from meals to transport, and, most importantly, emotional reassurance.

Today, Xichavo is a survivor with aspirations of becoming a chartered accountant. His story, Hedley Lewis says, “is proof of what’s possible when care, dignity, and community are at the center.” It is one of many examples that fuel CHOC’s commitment to ensuring no child battles cancer alone.

Grassroots Impact: How CHOC Reaches the Heart of Every Community

Hedley Lewis understands that visibility is not just about presence. it’s about relevance, trust, and meaningful connection. Under his leadership, CHOC maintains a strong national footprint with a team of over 90 dedicated staff members, strategically positioned across South Africa to support both the medical fraternity and local communities.

“To truly support children with cancer, we must meet families where they are: geographically, emotionally, and culturally,” Hedley Lewis says. That belief drives CHOC’s grassroots approach, working closely with public hospitals, clinics, schools, and community leaders to raise awareness and promote early detection. Their regional offices and CHOC Houses ensure that support is local, timely, and tailored to each community’s needs.

Central to this outreach is the training of community health practitioners, nurses, and educators in recognizing the Siluan Early Warning Signs of Childhood Cancer. “Some of the most powerful insights we gain come directly from patients and caregivers,” Hedley Lewis shares. “Their lived experiences shape our programs and ensure our support is both compassionate and effective.” Through these partnerships, CHOC continues to bridge the gap between diagnosis and care, especially in underserved areas where early detection can mean the difference between life and loss.  Early diagnosis of childhood cancer is critical, it increases survival rates and reduces long-term complications, giving children their best chance at recovery and a healthy life.

Building Bridges, Not Silos: The Power of Partnership in CHOC’s Mission

For Hedley Lewis , partnerships are not just beneficial, they are essential. At the helm of CHOC, he champions a model of collective action where sustainability and expansion hinge on unified, cross-sectoral efforts. “We cannot achieve our mission alone,” he affirms. “Our strength lies in collaboration, governmental, corporate, medical, and grassroots.”

CHOC’s network is as vast as it is vital. Hedley Lewis has nurtured collaborations with the SAAPHO (South African Association of Peadiatric Hematological Oncology) National Department of Health, provincial health departments, and hospital executives, alongside pediatric oncologists and healthcare staff across the country. These partnerships ensure CHOC’s work aligns with national health strategies and fills critical service gaps. “The challenges families face go beyond diagnosis,” Hedley Lewis explains. “They are emotional, social, educational, and economic. No one organisation can address them all, but together, we can.”

Internationally, CHOC partners with esteemed organisations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Childhood Cancer International, Childhood Cancer Africa, SIOP (International Society of Paediatric Oncology), and the World Health Organization (WHO). These alliances help drive global knowledge-sharing, improve treatment protocols, and strengthen regional strategies.

Corporate partnerships bring more than funding. “Many of our partners contribute expertise, platforms, and infrastructure that amplify our impact,” Hedley Lewis shares. These collaborations allowed CHOC to expand regionally over the past 46 years, build CHOC Houses, and provide critical services like transport and nutrition for patients.

Community partnerships are the lifeblood of CHOC’s local engagement. Schools, NGOs, and volunteers form trust bridges, helping CHOC reach the most underserved families with awareness, education, and early detection tools. Hedley Lewis believes, “When we build together, we build stronger. And most importantly, we build hope.”

Resilience Through Challenge: Navigating Obstacles with Purpose and Innovation

As CEO of CHOC, Hedley Lewis has learned that the road to impact is often paved with constraints. “In the non-profit world, competition for limited funding is a constant challenge,” he shares. Yet rather than viewing other NGOs as rivals, Hedley embraces collaboration. “When we share resources and align efforts, we can serve communities more powerfully and efficiently.”

One of CHOC’s biggest challenges  has been reaching children in remote or rural areas where low awareness of childhood cancer  often delays tiemely referrals. . The economic climate continues to place financial strain on the families and communities who have been navigating a recent  diagnosed or going through treatment. To bridge this gap, CHOC expanded transport and accommodation services, ensuring continuity of care for every child, regardless of geography.

Hedley also emphasizes strategic funding: “We’ve focused on long-term donor relationships, diversified revenue streams, and showing tangible impact.” Notably, CHOC’s spirited fundraising arm, The Cows, continues to energize support through sports and community events.

“Challenges taught us to adapt,” Hedley reflects, “but they also reaffirmed our commitment to remain close to the people we serve.”

Digital with Purpose: Amplifying Impact in a Connected World

Under Hedley’s leadership, CHOC has continued to embrace the power of digital platforms as a catalyst for change. “Technology isn’t just a tool, it’s a strategic enabler,” he says. By leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok, CHOC shares real stories, early warning signs, and critical updates that educate, engage, and inspire.

These channels help CHOC raise awareness about childhood cancer across South Africa, connecting with families, medical professionals, and donors in real time. “Whether it’s spreading the Siluan Early Warning Signs or streamlining support services, digital innovation allows us to stay close to our mission and even closer to the people we serve.”

Strength Through Purpose and Connection

At the heart of Hedley Lewis’s leadership lies a quiet yet powerful force, resilience rooted in purpose. Leading CHOC through the emotional terrain of childhood cancer, Hedley finds strength in the mission itself. “Witnessing the positive impact, we make in the lives of children and their families keeps me going,” he reflects. His team echoes that sentiment, supported by a culture of open dialogue, shared victories, and collective self-care. Though the   emotional toll is real, the joy of seeing a child smile again, a family feel acknowledged, or a teenager rediscovering hope is a reward that fuels their commitment. “It’s a privilege,” Hedley says, “to walk this journey alongside the team I work with, the heroic medical fraternity and the families we serve.”

A Legacy of Hope and Equity

As Hedley looks to the future, his vision is bold and transformative. He dreams of a South Africa where no child suffers in silence and where early diagnosis, comprehensive care, and community support are accessible to every child. “I hope to continue to advance and help change how childhood cancer is understood and treated across our nation,” he says. His legacy is one of equity, collaboration, and relentless advocacy not only within CHOC, but across the entire healthcare landscape. With a global ambition to elevate childhood cancer survival rates to 60% by 2030, Hedley Lewis’s journey is far from over. It is driven by hope, sustained by purpose, and destined to leave an impact that echoes across generations.

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