Wacky mum cheers her neighbours up by doing daily exercise in dinosaur outfit
A wacky mum has become an online hit after cheering up her neighbours during the coronavirus crisis by taking to the streets in a 7ft DINOSAUR costume. Gemma Whitton-Dews, aka G-Rex, has been entertaining her local community since being gifted the giant inflatable outfit for Mother's Day. The 43-year-old was spotted jogging past houses to entertain children after being inundated with requests from residents living in Banbury, Oxon. She has also been posting viral videos on Facebook of her dancing in the £59.99 T-Rex costume to help bring a smile to people's faces during coronavirus lockdown. The comical clips of her grooving to the Cha-Cha Slide and Beyonce's Green Light have since been viewed thousands of times online. Married mum-of-one Gemma, a self-employed dog walker, said: "I knew in the current climate it would cheer people up so I thought why not. "It's all about community spirit at a time like this and it gives me an excuse to dress up in an inflatable costume."I'm not fussed about the views or likes, if I bring a smile to one persons face during these troubling times then I'm more than happy with that. "I've stopped going out in it since the lockdown was enforced, so people are looking for me on Facebook instead and asking me to dance in the costume. "It got so popular that now G-Rex the dinosaur has her own page.
My phone is constantly pinging, I can't keep up with it all. "I asked for the costume for Mother's Day and now I've been contacted by other people who like dressing up as dinosaurs. "They've seen my videos and are saying we should all go out in the together wearing them once we're allowed to. "So its all gone a bit weird and sad.
I should maybe grow up, but during these strange times, I think its very important to try and have a laugh."The dinosaur costume first caught the attention of her neighbours after she wore it to personally deliver her Mother's Day gift and card to her mum.She added: "I walked to my parents house to deliver my mum's card and pressie and that's when everyone first saw me. "I can't see out of it very well as I'm a bit short, so I didn't know everyone was taking photos of me.
I could hear all the car horns beeping me though. "After seeing that Joe Wicks was doing a PE session in the morning, I thought I'd do my own in the costume and then it just went mad after that."Since then Gemma has been inundated with requests to dance in the costume, which she accepts and then posts the video on her Facebook page.Gemma added: "I've also had more requests to walk past friends houses for children's birthdays, but I'll only do that again once this lockdown ends."I'm staying in the house now due to the government rules, so I thought the best way to keep people entertained was to do these videos in my garden instead. "I've has requests for Bohemian Rhapsody, Macarena and the YMCA.
The next one I'm doing will be MC Hammer. "Some dance moves are tricky to do as the costume is quite restrictive.
But I'm going to give them all my best shot." Gemma has also been trying to help people in her community in practical ways during the coronavirus outbreak by delivering cards with offers of help. She added: "It's a great way to reach out to the older population who do not have access to the internet and Facebook."I have helped a couple of neighbours out with groceries and picking up prescriptions. "Mostly I've had calls or texts saying how much they appreciate the offer of help during this time."Unfortunately, I'm no longer in a position to shop due to the immune suppression medication I take due to Lupus."But I have managed to build up a small group of volunteers who are now helping the neighbours when I receive any requests."Banbury resident Chanelle Webb said: "Gemma has brought a smile to so many faces.
Not only that she has been actively helping the vulnerable."I can't thank her enough.
While I was isolation she went to shops for me. "She has sent me videos everyday to cheer me up.
All whilst trying to keep her business going as she is self employed."Pictures and videos of her taking to the streets of Banbury quickly spread around the local community social media pages.One Facebook user said: "Whoever you are walking along Grange Road in this dino costume, you are a genius, made mine and my husbands day. "We haven't laughed so much for a long time."
A wacky mum has become an online hit after cheering up her neighbours during the coronavirus crisis by taking to the streets in a 7ft DINOSAUR costume.
Gemma Whitton-Dews, aka G-Rex, has been entertaining her local community since being gifted the giant inflatable outfit for Mother's Day.
The 43-year-old was spotted jogging past houses to entertain children after being inundated with requests from residents living in Banbury, Oxon.
She has also been posting viral videos on Facebook of her dancing in the £59.99 T-Rex costume to help bring a smile to people's faces during coronavirus lockdown.
The comical clips of her grooving to the Cha-Cha Slide and Beyonce's Green Light have since been viewed thousands of times online.
Married mum-of-one Gemma, a self-employed dog walker, said: "I knew in the current climate it would cheer people up so I thought why not.
"It's all about community spirit at a time like this and it gives me an excuse to dress up in an inflatable costume."I'm not fussed about the views or likes, if I bring a smile to one persons face during these troubling times then I'm more than happy with that.
"I've stopped going out in it since the lockdown was enforced, so people are looking for me on Facebook instead and asking me to dance in the costume.
"It got so popular that now G-Rex the dinosaur has her own page.
My phone is constantly pinging, I can't keep up with it all.
"I asked for the costume for Mother's Day and now I've been contacted by other people who like dressing up as dinosaurs.
"They've seen my videos and are saying we should all go out in the together wearing them once we're allowed to.
"So its all gone a bit weird and sad.
I should maybe grow up, but during these strange times, I think its very important to try and have a laugh."The dinosaur costume first caught the attention of her neighbours after she wore it to personally deliver her Mother's Day gift and card to her mum.She added: "I walked to my parents house to deliver my mum's card and pressie and that's when everyone first saw me.
"I can't see out of it very well as I'm a bit short, so I didn't know everyone was taking photos of me.
I could hear all the car horns beeping me though.
"After seeing that Joe Wicks was doing a PE session in the morning, I thought I'd do my own in the costume and then it just went mad after that."Since then Gemma has been inundated with requests to dance in the costume, which she accepts and then posts the video on her Facebook page.Gemma added: "I've also had more requests to walk past friends houses for children's birthdays, but I'll only do that again once this lockdown ends."I'm staying in the house now due to the government rules, so I thought the best way to keep people entertained was to do these videos in my garden instead.
"I've has requests for Bohemian Rhapsody, Macarena and the YMCA.
The next one I'm doing will be MC Hammer.
"Some dance moves are tricky to do as the costume is quite restrictive.
But I'm going to give them all my best shot." Gemma has also been trying to help people in her community in practical ways during the coronavirus outbreak by delivering cards with offers of help.
She added: "It's a great way to reach out to the older population who do not have access to the internet and Facebook."I have helped a couple of neighbours out with groceries and picking up prescriptions.
"Mostly I've had calls or texts saying how much they appreciate the offer of help during this time."Unfortunately, I'm no longer in a position to shop due to the immune suppression medication I take due to Lupus."But I have managed to build up a small group of volunteers who are now helping the neighbours when I receive any requests."Banbury resident Chanelle Webb said: "Gemma has brought a smile to so many faces.
Not only that she has been actively helping the vulnerable."I can't thank her enough.
While I was isolation she went to shops for me.
"She has sent me videos everyday to cheer me up.
All whilst trying to keep her business going as she is self employed."Pictures and videos of her taking to the streets of Banbury quickly spread around the local community social media pages.One Facebook user said: "Whoever you are walking along Grange Road in this dino costume, you are a genius, made mine and my husbands day.
