A well-deserved win for the wife of lottery founder
WHEN Margaret Bacon of Wilmslow landed the £1,000 weekly jackpot in East Cheshire Hospice’s lottery draw, many may have felt it was long overdue.
For it was her husband Tony, along with other volunteers, who came up with the idea of a hospice lottery in 1994.
The introduction was delayed until the next year to avoid clashing with the high-profile launch of the National Lottery and it has since gone on to raise huge sums.
Tony set up an administration office in Hurdsfield and, with the help of others, rapidly grew the lottery.
The hospice’s present lottery manager, Paul Marsh, had the pleasant task of letting Margaret know she had won the top prize for the first time.
Paul said: “East Cheshire Hospice owes Tony enormous gratitude for his vision and dedication over many years. Thanks to him we were one of the first hospices in the country to run our own lottery.
“Tony would pound the streets gathering entry money and was still collecting door-to-door in Wilmslow and Alderley Edge until a couple of years ago, even though he was into his 80s and not in the best of health.”
Margaret supported Tony through his lottery involvement; even driving him between locations.
She has also been a highly active and respected long-serving volunteer.
Paul said: “At just £1 a ticket our lottery is an easy way to give regularly to the hospice with a chance of winning something back. Many winners also donate some of their prize money.”
The lottery raises 10 per cent of the total funding needed to keep the hospice open every day of the year.
To play go to: eastcheshirehospice.org. uk/join-our-lottery or call 01625 433477.
Christmas gift vouchers with a £10 minimum are also now available.