An Oakworth couple who won a dream African holiday in a raffle are launching a fundraising campaign for the charity that organised it.

Jonathan and Emma Sharp – of Tewitt Hall Farm – spent about a fortnight on safari, living amongst animals including elephants and lions. They stayed in lodges and camped during the South Africa trip.

“We had bought three raffle tickets just to give a donation to the charity,” said dairy farmer Mr Sharp, 44. “I got up one morning and there was a Facebook message saying we’d won. I couldn’t believe it.

“It was the holiday-of-a-lifetime. It rained a lot, but it was amazing!”

Now they are raising money for UK-based charity Brighter Start’s support of the Waterberg Academy, to provide a bursary for an underprivileged child to attend the school in Limpopo.

“It costs £1,300 a year to send a child to the academy and that is what we aim to raise,” said Mr Sharp.

He and Emma, 40, northern area accounts manager for Tempur, will kick off their campaign by taking part in the Mascot Gold Cup at Wetherby racecourse on April 13. Visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JonathanSharp1 to donate.