YOU cannot keep a good man down - certainly not when you have such a wonderful team of pals in support!

Indeed, when Skipton's 'Mr Sport', Roger Ingham, looked set this year to be grounded for his traditional festive season 'bucket and banter' charity collection for Candlelighters around the district's hostelries, then in stepped the cavalry.

Roger suffered a stroke in early November and though he is recovering, his mobility is taking its time and his annual Christmas collection in Craven's pubs seemed impossible.

But with 'Roger's Elves' emblazoned on their T-shirts, the 'cavalry' took over the reins and ferried Roger, complete with walking sticks, around many of the locations which he traditionally visited and the elves covered the hard yards with the buckets.

However, their dash of enterprise would itself be beset with problems. Amy Brewster, who pioneered the move, fulfilled two early shifts, and then herself, unpredicted, was struck with pneumonia and she too spent a week in hospital.

Other pals therefore subbed in despite, at times, some appalling weather including on "Builders' Friday". Then, even worse on New Year's Eve midst Roger's traditional tour of the higher parts of Upper Wharfedale, when they were stuck in floodwater and missed a sizeable number of venues before the clock struck midnight.

Despite this variation of setbacks though, another welcome tally - albeit boosted by a four-figure addition from Roger's youngest lad, Joe, via a JustGiving link on his Facebook page - was a splendid £3,708-00 for the charity fighting children's cancer and leukaemia at Leeds General Infirmary. This latest impressive sum brings Roger's overall tally, either singularly or with the team for the Candlelighters cause alone, to more than £88,000, and still counting.

The picture by hairdresser-photographer, John Lancaster, who himself provided a worthy shift in helping, shows, left to right, Ruth Barrett, Kayleigh Fell, Georgia Brewster, Roger Ingham, Amy Brewster, team mascot, Jacob Brewster and Leah Dodd. T-shirts were donated by Cheyenne Hardwick of MC Sports, Gargrave.

Roger conveys a most sincere 'thank you' to all who kindly contributed whether it be via the collections or Joe's "just giving" page, or the illustrious likes of octogenarian, "Sir Len" of Wharfedale Rugby Club, who trekked up to Roger's house as in previous years with a handsome donation.

Roger, also conveys a sincere thank you to all who offered help with shopping, lifts up and down Shortbank, or for the multitude of get well messages which he received during his hours of need.