Freya Lewis
When Freya was 14 she was seriously injured in the Manchester Arena Attack and lost her best friend. Since then she has raised many thousands for the hospital that treated her and wrote a book about her experiences.
Instagram: @whatmakesus_stronger
Biography
When Freya was 14 she was seriously injured in the Manchester Arena Attack and lost her best friend, Nell. She spent weeks in hospital where she underwent multiple operations on her 29 separate injuries. Immediately after the attack she started raising money for The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, the hospital that saved her life. She has also raised money for the residential house that took care of her family while she was in hospital - Ronald McDonald House. Since then she has become ambassador to the High Sheriff of Manchester, has won an award an NHS Heroes Award and was the Amplifon Brave Briton Young Hero winner in 2018.
She is currently balancing her drama school studies with speaking at events - and particularly at schools - about her experiences, and what she has learnt about courage and compassion since the event that changed her life.
Books
What Makes Us Stronger
Her highly acclaimed book What Makes Us Stronger was published in 2020 and 2022 by Orion.
'Freya Lewis is extraordinary' Katie Piper
'A love letter to the NHS' Lorraine Kelly
'A poignant story of courage and pain but, most of all, it is a striking testament to friendship.' Daily Express
'A candid account of the terrorist attack and the effect it has had on her life.' The i
'An unflinching story of grief, survival and love' YOU Magazine