Matthew Lewis visits Sport Relief-funded project in Leeds

Members of registered charity Armley Helping Hands were rewarded with a treat when Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) decided to pay them a visit and join in with their excercise class. The Harry Potter actor was intrigued to know more about how money raised by British charity Sport Relief has helped give the group the boost they needed to make people more aware of them.

The charity, which set up the Reconnect Community Project, helps older people of the Armley and Wortley area of Leeds to do such things as take up hobbies and gain more independence.

The Yorkshire Evening Post reported how Lewis was eager to visit the group he’d heard so much about:

“I was keen to visit Armley Helping Hands [since] I’d read about the fantastic work it does to help older people to live independently within the local community.”

“After visiting here today and seeing what an impact money raised through Sport Relief can have, I’d like to urge the people of Leeds to sign up to the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games.”

While partaking in the exercise class, which was part of a health and well-being course, and seeing the amazing work that the project and Sport Relief itself helps create, he stated, “I hope seeing them getting active encourages everyone to get involved.”

Apprentice of the charity Lauren Firth gushed that Lewis’s visit was “so exciting for everyone here. It was great that he could experience for himself what we do here at the project and the difference we make.”

The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games are made up of three events – the Mile, the Swimathon, and the Cycle – and will be held in towns and cities all over the UK from March 21 to March 23; click here to find out more.