A Wigan volunteer, who set up a group which made and delivered more than 13,000 headbands for key workers, has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Something that Michele Nel initially did for a friend early on in the pandemic spiralled into a volunteer group, which is now a team of 99 sewers, four administrators and 73 couriers.
Michele, 58, of Standish, is proud of how far Headbands for Heroes has come in the past six months.
She said: "It's just been an incredible adventure.
"I started it when a maternity nurse friend of mine told me her ears were really painful and asked if I could make anything to help.
"I made a few and more people kept asking and then within a week it was a little out of control.
"With the distribution I asked a gentleman from church, who is a biker, if any of his biker friends could help. The next thing I knew, 60 or 70 bikers were lined up collecting orders from the house. It was just mind-blowing."
Michelle will be awarded an MBE for services to the community and frontline workers in Wigan during Covid-19.
It's something she could have never dreamed of when she moved to England from South Africa 22 years ago.
"It's a total shock and a bit overwhelming," she admitted.
"It's not something I would have ever imagined and thought of. I didn't believe it at first and it was only when I researched the phone number and email address."
Bickershaw resident Gary Frith, who works as a health and safety advisor at HMP Hindley has also been awarded an MBE for services to prison staff, their families and prisoners during Covid-19.
Two Wigan men have also been awarded a BEM (British Empire Medal).
Ian Michael Brown will receive the honour for voluntary service to the Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade in Standish.
While PC John Williams of Greater Manchester Police has been awarded a BEM for services to policing and charity.
