A GOVILON couple single-handedly raised more than £6,000 for charities this year.

Sylvia and John Sharland raised a total of £6,214.87 this year which was split between charities such as the Noah’s Ark Appeal, In The Pink, the Alzheimer’s Society and Skint Animals.

The couple raised £2,163 of this for the British Red Cross.

Mr and Mrs Sharland, who often dress up as different characters such as Mother and Father Christmas in return for charitable donations, have been fundraising for 15 years and in that time have raised around £115,000.

This year Mr and Mrs Sharland raised £700 for the Alzheimer’s Society by dressing up at Hallowe’en and Easter events at Tesco in Abergavenny and around £520 for Nevill Hall Hospital’s radio station by dressing up as Mother and Father Christmas at Waitrose in Abergavenny.

Mr Sharland, 70, dressed as an elf earlier this month at the switching on of the Christmas lights in Abergavenny to raise money for the Mayor’s charities.

They also attended the children’s ward at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on December 19 with Charlotte Church to give out presents to patients. Mr and Mrs Sharland have even donated their barge for a day as a prize in aid of the Noah’s Ark Appeal.

Mrs Sharland, 65, said: “We feel we’re very fortunate and wanted to give something back to others.”