‘I’m not usually lost for words... but I am now!’
A NORTH Staffordshire woman received the best early Christmas present when told she had won a share of £300,000 of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Helen Thurston, from Dilhorne, in the Staffordshire Moorlands, was one of six people in the ST10 2PA postcode to win £50,000 on December 23.
The former Staffordshire University worker, who retired from her job five years ago, learned how much she’d won during a video call with People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Jeff Brazier.
After seeing the figure written on her cheque, the 66-year-old gasped: “Oh my good grief! That is mad.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m not usually lost for words but I am now.
“It’s such a lot of money, I hadn’t expected anything like that. It’s life-changing isn’t it?”
Helen has a few ideas on how she’ll spend the windfall.
She said: “I know my son wants to buy a house so that might help him, and I’ve got lots of travelling to do when I get that vaccination.
“I’ve been to Italy and I’d love to go back. I’ve friends in South Africa and I’d love to go to America – I’ve never seen the Grand Canyon.
“And then there’s my own country as well – there’s so many beauties in Britain I’ve yet to explore.
“I’ve got butterflies. I’ve got a real bubbly feeling in my tummy.”
The neighbours won the prize as part of People’s Postcode Lottery’s special Christmas campaign, where one postcode is announced as a £50,000 prize winner every day.
All the players in the postcode win £50,000 for every ticket they hold.
The remaining winners in Dilhorne weren’t available to be presented with their prize, but the money will still be paid directly into their bank accounts.
People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Jeff Brazier said: “It was my pleasure to meet Helen and virtually present her with her prize.
“It was lovely to hear all her plans for helping out her family and going travelling when she’s able to.
“I hope our other winners in Dilhorne are able to treat themselves to something special too.”
A minimum of 32 per cent of ticket sales goes directly to charities, and the players of People’s Postcode Lottery have helped raise over £600 million to date for thousands of good causes across Britain and internationally.
This draw was promoted by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, which has received over £3.3 million thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.