A couple from Caerphilly have raised more than £11,000 for their local hospital during the coronavirus pandemic after a family member died being cared for there.
Sharon and Philip Mock have been nominated over 70 times as a WalesOnline Covid hero due to the huge amount of money they have raised for Ysbyty Ystrad fawr in Hengoed.
The pair raised £11,400 to help the hospital buy essentials such as toiletries, mobile phones, dementia dogs and safes for the staff and patients at the hospital.
While they are known for their charity efforts in the community, they began raising money for the hospital back in March when Phillip's Mother was admitted. Sadly, she died a short time later.
Sharon, a former firefighter from Caerphilly, has always been heavily involved in fundraising. However since retiring it has almost become a full time job, with Sharon describing her home like a "charity shop".
She said: "I've always wanted to help out and raise money for a good cause, I struggle with just sitting there and not doing anything."
"My house is like a charity shop - I get so many donations for all the different charities that there's stuff everywhere.
"One of the main charities I'm helping at the moment is Llamau, to help vulnerable young adults set up their own homes. We've had everything donated - from clothes to electricals and all that.
"Every Christmas I help out to try and give them a good Christmas. We raised £2,300 which will be spent among 54 vulnerable children to give them something for Christmas."
Since lockdown began in March, Sharon and her husband Philip have started raising money to help NHS staff at their local hospital.
As well as this, they also started an Amazon wish list for items needed at the hospital which people have been able to buy and donate.
Since their fundraising started, the paid have raised over £11,400 for the hospital, and over £5,800 in Amazon wish list orders.
"It all started when my mother in law went into hospital," said Sharon.
"We were finding it very difficult not being able to visit and things like that, and we were able to see what exactly the hospital needed.
"So things like toiletries and pyjamas but also phones for them to speak to relatives etc.
"The list of things needed was endless, but it was a huge help to them."
Sharon said she is over to moon to be nominated but says the "amazing" community are to be thanked.
"Our community was just amazing, they deserve all the credit. They trusted us to organise it and to help and we couldn't have done it without them.
"I was amazed at the response, it's been absolutely awesome. All the donations have been the backbone of helping the hospital out.
"At one point I had 56 Amazon parcels from the list delivered in one day, there were about 30 a day."
Sharon said she is so proud to have been nominated to be a WalesOnline Covid hero alongside her husband Phillip.
"I feel so proud and so happy to have been nominated. The community are always behind us, always fighting my corner - they are amazing."
One of the people who nominated the couple was their daughter Zoe Mock, also from Caerphilly.
Zoe said: "They've always been into fundraising, you can never get into their house, it's full of stuff to be donated.
"I don't think they were expecting a lot so it's incredible how much has been raised.
"Since she's retired she just lives and breathes charity work. I'm so proud of her - she is a great example to her children and grandchild."
