Winners use Lottery cash to help others
WINNING the lottery is something many of us dream of, but for one group of people from Wales it is a reality.
A group of 20 winners with a combined wealth of £15m keep in touch, regularly meet up and have a shared goal of using their winnings to help others.
They include lottery winners from Pembrey and Pontardawe.
During lockdown they took part in various fundraising events for a Welsh hospice, supported a Welsh pet food bank and now have combined forces again to host a glitzy Easter afternoon tea and dance for members of a South Wales community group.
The setting was appropriate – the millionaires’ chose Cardiff ’s Coal Exchange for the nostalgic dance, as it’s where the first £1m deal in history was struck and where the first £1m cheque was signed – way back in 1907, before the coal exporting Cardiff Docks were revitalised to become Cardiff Bay.
The benevolent National Lottery winners included Chris and Geraldine Bradley, from Pembrey, whose grandfather Bob, from Llanelli, won £3.6m in 2006.
The 84-year-old D-day veteran died a year after the win, but had made sure his fortune was in order for his family, friends, charities and good causes. The great-grandad had had the happiest year of his life splashing out his jackpot millions – and had just come back from a dream holiday with his family.
Now, his family are making sure that his determination to help others is being carried on.
Chris said: “My grandfather didn’t like a lot of fuss. The night he won, he didn’t want to go to his local as usual as he didn’t want people making a big thing of it, but he did enjoy that last year of his life, and we are determined to make sure his legacy is carried on for the good.
“The win has definitely brought us together as a family, we were able to buy houses for our children so they are nearby, but it is also important to be able to help others, too.”
Steve and Lesley Schiltz had moved from London to Pontardawe before winning £1m on EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker in December 2019.
“We’ve all had such a lovely afternoon,” said lorry driver-turnedhaulage boss Steve.
“We help with a few charities. We were lucky enough to have our win – I still can’t believe it, to be honest – so we’ve always been keen to try and pass on some of that luck for other people to enjoy.
“Lesley and I try to keep busy, as we’ve always worked hard and that’s good for mental health, so is being able to socialise again. The last two years have been hard for lots of people, so we’re always keen to get involved with community projects like this and to help out wherever we can.”
Davinia Pritchard, who only recently retired as an ambulance call handler, won £1m on Matchmaker in 2015 and was delighted to see all the smiling faces.
“Winning the lottery gives you stability and security,” she said.
“But seeing the smiles on the faces of people you have been able to help is priceless. It is not always about money, it is about making memories.”
And the event was a huge success. Elderfit community group member Hilary Moginie, 70, said: “We have a fabulous class on a Monday morning that sets all of us for the week. We laugh a lot together and have all been looking forward to the tea dance as we have become friends as well as class devotees.
“The dance this afternoon is all anyone has been talking about for weeks. Over the last two years during Covid, we have missed each other’s company and now it’s like we’ve become long lost friends.”
Every week £30m is generated for National Lottery-funded projects like Elderfit, which is just one of more than 6,000 health and wellbeing projects supported by National Lottery funding last year. Camelot also recently donated £1m to charities and organisations helping in the Ukraine.