Woman wins car in Blake raffle

The donated Audi prize raised £15k for ill Carnoustie boy

A Dundee woman was “squealing” with joy after winning a new car in a raffle which raised thousands of pounds for a sick Angus youngster.

Lottery millionaire Gillian Bayford donated a new Audi A1 as a raffle prize in a bid to help find a cure for Blake McMillan, who suffers from MECP2 duplication syndrome.

The five-year-old requires 24-hour care as he cannot walk, talk or eat.

Gillian – who became the winner of Britain’s second biggest Lotto win when she and her ex-husband scooped £148 million in 2012 – previously bought a specially-adapted house for the family.

The draw was completed by Carnoustie and District Councillor David Cheape.

The winning ticket was 337, which was bought by Dundee woman Stephanie McGregor.

There were 540 donations made and more than £15,000 was raised.

Blake’s mother Jenny, said: “I am glad that it is a local person who won it as we have had so much local support.

“It’s another 15 grand closer to getting a cure for Blake so that is a fantastic amount to raise. I am absolutely grateful to Gillian as she has been supporting us for a while.

“I want so much for Blake and I don’t intend to give up striving for the best for my boy.”

Stephanie, 34, bought a ticket after following Blake’s Facebook page and was keen to donate.

She said: “On Saturday morning I was lying in bed with my husband and our three-week-old daughter, Charlotte Emily, when I saw a message pop up on my phone from Jenny.

“My first thought was that she was messaging me to get in touch with someone else, never really believing I would have won and then I read her message.

“I let my husband read it and we were squealing but then had to stop as Charlotte was sleeping and it had been another long night of little sleep, so we didn’t want to wake her!

“I think we’re both still letting it sink in. I’ve only ever really won the odd voucher or bottle of wine in raffles before. This is just amazing.”

Picture: Paul Reid. From left: Jenny McMillan with daughter Faye and son Blake, Gillian Bayford, who donated the car, and Councillor David Cheape who made the draw.