A WHITCHURCH couple who decorate their house and Chirstmas lights every year have raised over £12,000 for charity.
Sheila and Keith Chase bring joy to people every year when they decorate their house in Chester Road with Christmas lights and this year they raised £12,810.16 for the Midlands Air Ambulance.
Sheila went to the air ambulance base in Cosford with her grandsons to officially hand over the money.
This is the 25th year Sheila and Keith have raised money for the air ambulance and Sheila was delighted with the support shown by people in the town and further afield.
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She said: "We would like to thank everyone for the support.
"We do have some fabulous supporters and friends we have made over the years."
Sheila added: "To be able to give them that amount is a fantastic amount.
"For every sortie they do, it is £3,000 just to get the helicopter up.
"Our supporters have never failed to give and that is what it is all about.
"Doing what we do puts a sparkle at the end of the year and coming towards Christmas.
"It just makes you feel happy."
Sheila said many different generations of families come to the Christmas lights display every year.
She said: "We have people who come from everywhere.
"We have never advertised as we have never mader it a public event.
"It has grown to what it is over the years because people know what we do and when we do it.
"I have people bringing their children who came when they were children themselves.
"It is part of our giving back to the town.
"In this area, it is an emergency serivce in which if we need it, it is there.
"It helps saves lives."
When Sheila and her grandsons went to Cosford they were shown around by the crew.
She said: "They saw the crew refill their bags and refuel.
"When we went out to have some photos they were showing the boys how the stretcher works.
"It is great to meet them and we have got to know them over the years."
Midlands Air Ambulance thanked the Chase family for their fundrasing efforts.
A spokesperson said: "We welcomed Sheila Chase and her grandchildren to our airbase, where they presented a cheque for an astonishing £12,810.16 they raised over the festive season with their Christmas light display.
"Sheila has raised the equivalent of four helicopter missions or 44 critical care car missions.
"Thank you, Sheila, for your incredible donation."
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