Updated / Thursday, 28 Jan 2021 09:51 The image of Bernie Sanders sitting cross-legged in mittens launched a thousand internet memes The inauguration day photograph of a mitten-clad, glamour-defying Bernie Sanders perhaps was not the most flattering image of the US senator, but it has become a remarkably charitable one. The image launched a thousand memes and made the earnest two-time presidential candidate an internet star. The 79-year-old politician from the north-eastern US state of Vermont announced this week that he has raised $1.8m (€1.5m) for charity over the past five days through sales of merchandise featuring him wearing the knitted mittens and a parka at US President Joe Biden's 20 January swearing-in.