BREATHTAKING! NOT JUST THE HOW NURSE WON THIS £3m LAKES HOUSE...BUT MANSION
WHEN her daughter called on April 1 to tell her she had won a prize draw, Catherine Carwardine suspected it was an elaborate April Fool’s joke. And she was right.
The NHS worker was on a well-earned break in Venice with husband Chris – and raffle organisers told them they had won £20,000 in cash, recording their reaction in a video call.
But then officials got back in touch to tell them they needed to redo the video call – and told them the real prize was this stunning £3million mansion in the Lake District.
Catherine scooped the sixbed home above Windermere in the latest Omaze draw, which raised £1million for Alzheimer’s Research.
The furnished property boasts a cinema, sauna, steam room and gym plus a breathtaking terrace overlooking the lake and terraced gardens.
Catherine and salesman Chris, both 59, and their children Charlotte, 19, Joshua, 21, Jessica, 31, and Gareth, 35, are already making plans for their new property, considering splitting their time between there and their home in Telford, Shropshire.
The nurse-turned-IT-worker said: “We’re still pinching ourselves. It’s absolutely perfect and already feels like home.At first, we didn’t believe it as it was April Fool’s Day.
“We thought the kids were playing a prank on us.
“But then we realised we actually had won and were totally gobsmacked! We didn’t know how to celebrate as we were both in shock.
“I don’t think either of us slept a wink that night.
When we got back from holiday the children greeted us on the driveway with Champagne spraying everywhere – we felt like we were F1 drivers!”
The couple may let out the Lakes mansion when they are not using it. Catherine said: “We will rent it out to generate some extra income to help the children pay off their
mortgages faster. But we love this new house so much though we don’t want to rent it out too often.
“All the children are now busy planning the rest of our lives – they’ve never been so interested in us. I’ve worked for the NHS for 40 years and even though winning
this prize is so life-changing, I love my job and will keep on working.”
The winners’ stamp duty and legal costs are included and they can keep the £20,000 in cash.
Catherine praised Omaze for funding Alzheimer’s research. “We support a lot of charities and have friends who have had family impacted by dementia, so this partnership is fantastic,” she said.
Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research, said: “By working with Omaze, we were able to raise a substantial amount of money at zero risk and zero cost to Alzheimer’s Research UK.” DCI Banks actor Stephen Tompkinson is an Alzheimer’s Research ambassador.
He launched the draw and said: “The work the charity does is incredible.
“The £1million raised by this draw will make a dramatic difference.”
James Oakes, senior vice president international at Omaze, said: “We’re delighted that Catherine has won her dream home – and was able to contribute to this fantastic £1million.”