LIGHT FANTASTIC
‘LOTTERY WIN TRANSFORMED OUR DAUGHTER’S LIFE’
What would you do if you won the lottery? It’s a thought many of us will have fantasised about and planned meticulously in our minds.
But for Adam Pryor, 35, and wife Amy, 30, from Maidstone, that dream became a reality in August 2017 when they scooped £1 million on the EuroMillions. Few winners will have spent their jackpot in such a heart-warming way as this couple, who literally lit up the life of their of their daughter, who was treated to a unique sensory room of her very own. Charlotte, now three, was born seven weeks early with a cleft palate and while doctors were running tests, more issues emerged.
She was diagnosed with a chromosome 11 abnormality, and was totally deaf in one ear and partially deaf in another.
The first eight months of her life were spent with repeated hospital visits in London, the cost of which was starting to take its toll on the family. Mr Pryor, 35, said: “The win put an end to all that and meant we could swap our two-bed terraced house for a four-bed detached home where we’ve been able to create a special sensory room for Charlotte.
“She loves it and we can see her making huge progress, better still, it’s a space which makes her so happy – she laughs and chuckles and doesn’t stop.” The family’s story is documented in a new photo exhibition at Fulham Palace Gallery in London detailing the weird and wonderful purchases of winnings to mark The National Lottery’s 25th birthday.
Joining Charlotte and her parents in the exhibition are another Kent couple, Wayne and Desiree Home from East Farleigh, whose own win heralded a massive change in circumstances for the pair who had experienced life-threatening illness and financial ruin. Andy Carter, Senior Winners’
Advisor at The National Lottery, said: “It is always wonderful to hear about the truly amazing things winners do.
“This exhibition is a fantastic showcase of wacky and obscure hobbies, to the generous, heartfelt and even surprising stories whic some of our 5,500 millionaires have.”
The photos are being displayed at the historic Fulham Palace from Wednesday, October 30 until Sunday, November 10.