A GYMNASTICS volunteer from No Man's Heath has been praised for playing an important role in tackling the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Mandy Lewis, a volunteer at Wrexham Gymnastics Club, has been making scrub hats and face masks for the NHS and community.

As well as volunteering, Mandy also runs Wild Angelica, making leotards and first got involved in the sport when her daughter started gymnastics eight years ago and moved to the Wrexham-based club.

"I found that leotards could be very expensive, and I wanted my daughter to look the part so decided to try and make one myself," said Mandy.

"I was a music teacher at the time but had some experience with a sewing machine.

"From there, Wild Angelica flourished and I now make 300 leotards a year.

"When the coronavirus pandemic hit I wanted to support the community and with gymnastics clubs closed, I had the capacity to do so.

"I joined the NHS Sewing Group for Shropshire and collectively, we've made thousands and thousands of items for NHS hospitals and care homes in Shropshire.

"The contribution from my house was around 80 bags and scrub hats."

Mandy, who is the welfare officer at Wrexham Gymnastics Club, has since started producing face masks for the community and has made 150 so far.

The gymnastics club have continued to engage with their members during the coronavirus pandemic, sending out exercise plans and hosting Zoom calls three times a week.

"My girls cannot wait to get back in the gym but the club have done a great job to keep the gymnasts connected at this time", added Mandy.

Mandy says she is looking forward to coronavirus restrictions behind restricted, so her children can visit their grandparents again.

"I can't wait for my kids to be able to go and hug their grandparents," she added,

"They only live down the road and while it's been great being able to see them through the window, I'm looking forward for us all to be able to hug again."

Meanwhile, the chief executive of British Gymnastics, Jane Allen MBE, commended the actions of people such as Mandy.

"The pandemic has challenged both the nation's mental and physical health so to see someone involved in the sport using their skills to support their community is just fantastic," said Jane.

"Our British Gymnastics members are the heartbeat of our sport and it's been so inspiring to see how they have adapted and innovated in response to coronavirus.

"It makes me so proud when I hear of stories like Mandy's to be involved in such a phenomenal community sport."