A 'HERO' from Bracknell will have her name featured on the side of a train to honour her selflessness during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tracy Devlin began volunteering work with the PPE team at Garth Hill College in Bracknell making scrubs to donate to local hospitals, doctors' surgeries, care homes and schools and vet practices.
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The childminder formed the Facebook group Rainbow Scrubs, which is a team of 16 volunteer sewers from Bracknell and Wokingham making anything from scrubs to masks and headbands.
To date Tracy and her army of sewers have made and donated 923 scrubs, 3,300 masks, 1,818 scrubs wash bags, 1,052 headbands, 600 ear savers, 84 hats, 55 bandanas, 60 crocheted hearts and 188 ‘Frontline Hero’ bears.
Because of her efforts, she was selected to have her name featured on the side of a Great Western Railway to celebrate her for being a community hero.
Ms Devlin, alongside seven-year-old schoolboy Henry Cleary is one of two community heroes who have been chosen as BBC Make a Difference Superstars for selflessly helping others at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Plans are being made for their names to be added to either end of a high-speed Intercity Express Train.
Matthew Golton, GWR Interim Managing Director, said: “The GWR has a long and proud history of naming trains after Great Westerners – past and present heroes from across our network – and to that list now we can add the names of Henry Cleary and Tracy Devlin.
“It has been a privilege to partner with the BBC Make a Difference campaign and learn more about people like Henry and Tracy who have helped to make such a huge difference in their communities during the pandemic.
“Listening to BBC local radio we were particularly overwhelmed by the stories of these two winners and I hope our train-naming ceremonies will serve as a fitting tribute to them.”
Tracy also knitted ‘Frontline Hero’ bears to raise funds for other items to be given to key workers and she has become a coordinator for the collection and delivery of numerous donations of fabric, ribbons and buttons.
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “I have been blown away by the efforts of all the Covid-19 heroes during the course of the pandemic. Their dedication and compassion has been truly heart-warming, and made a huge difference in their communities.
“These trains will be a lasting reminder of all those who have gone the extra mile to keep this country going.”
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