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I won £50,000 in Postcode Lottery and it’s going to change my family’s life – here’s how I’ll spend the money
ONE EMOTIONAL mom has won the lottery – and reveals how she will spend it to change the life of her severely disabled teenage daughter.
Mother-of-two Nichola pocketed £55,000 from her neighborhood’s “Street Millionaire” prize in the People’s ZIP Code Lottery.
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She says how big a difference luck will make for her 13-year-old daughter Ava, who has a genetic disorder so rare it doesn’t even have a name.
The family wanted to move for four years after being unable to obtain a planning permit to adapt their home to Ava’s needs.
But now supermarket cafe worker Nichola has new hope, after she and her neighbors in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, got lucky.
Their postcode SK16 5AZ has been announced as the latest “Street Millionaire” winner, with each ticket worth £55,555 – and one player even doubled his winnings by two.
Ava was born with a chromosomal abnormality, as well as holes in her heart that made her unable to speak and had a severe learning disability.
She had a curved spine, could not walk without assistance and had to be force-fed.
She survived to her late teens – despite her doctors’ predictions – but her family struggled to adjust their semi-detached home to better suit her.
Nichola said: ‘Ava’s condition is so rare, she has no name.
“Most pregnancies [of this kind] miscarriage or stillbirth and the doctors did not expect that she would still be with us at this age. She likes to keep us all on our toes.”
Nichola and her creative director husband Paul had to turn part of their dining room into a bedroom for Ava when she was older, but couldn’t get permission to plan a wet room downstairs.
However, winning the lottery will help a lot.
“We’re going to use this money to move into a home that better suits Ava’s needs,” Nichola said.
“I’ve been using Rightmove every day for the past four years.
“I wanted to give Ava her own bedroom with a dressing table, just like every 13-year-old girl wants.
“This has given us some hope and some happiness. It feels like it’s within our reach now – I feel a little bit more relieved.”
Other spending plans could include a vacation in Spain and driving lessons for son James.
Nichola, who gave up her design career 13 years ago to become Ava’s carer, said: “James just finished his exams and he did great – I’m so proud of him.
“I think he deserves to learn to drive when the time comes.”
And she added: “A short trip to Spain would be great – I’ve been practicing my Spanish for a few years now.
“Whether we could go with a family is unknown – it could have just been a girls trip.
“I’m still in shock. I can’t believe we won that amount. It’s going to be so helpful, it’s hard not to get emotional.”
Other winners across the street include neighbor Pam, who raked in cash of £111,110 after playing with two tickets.
Retired library assistant who loves horses, Pam now plans to treat her sister to an adventure in the Wild West, saying, “I want to go to America, see the Grand Canyon and stay on a ranch.
“I also have four horses – Princess, Mable, Georgie Girl and Meg. They will be treated.
“My daughter, Jennifer, also ordered what to spend the money on.”
Also receiving checks for £55,555 were intensive care nurse Sarah as well as couple Michael and Barbara, who wanted to mark their ruby wedding anniversary with a trip along 66th Street in the US. this October.
Maternity worker Emma is also planning a holiday with her winnings, visiting the Dominican Republic with her husband, water worker Michael, to mark 10 years of marriage.
She said: “We’ll be able to splurge – I might even get my own bullet train. It’s a dream come true.”
The folks at Dukinfield previously shared a £3million jackpot in the Millions of Postcodes monthly draw five years ago.
At the time, Manchester United fan Paul made £2,000 but now has an additional £55,555 which he says he will spend on a holiday in the Spanish resort of Benidorm with his wife Julie and a trip go to Italy.
He said: “I’ve always wanted to go to Rome to try Italian food and wine and now the ZIP Code Lottery has given me that opportunity.”
However, his eldest daughter Charlotte missed out after dropping the winning postcode when she moved to a different area and registered there instead.
But Julie insisted: “She’s happy for us – she said, ‘It’s just my luck’.”
Former X Factor contestant Danyl Johnson and TV host Matt Johnson presented checks to the hosts of the People’s ZIP Code Lottery.
Matt said: “We had an enjoyable day in Dukinfield.
“It’s so special to see the neighbors win together.”
The People’s Postal Code Lottery, which started in 2005, awards £1 million to Britons every week, based entirely on where they live.
Recent winners include a mother-of-two who lives in Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire but plans to spend her newfound money returning to her home city, the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.
A blind former Royal Marine from Chelmsford in Essex, who raked in £400,000, told how he had to thank his late wife for setting up the winning ticket before passing. tragically because of cancer.
A teaching assistant and a receptionist were among Lancaster residents in Lancashire who shared £3.2m, while four members of a Scunthorpe family pocketed £55,550 at the start of the month This.
Meanwhile, a former nurse won £400,000 in the People’s Postal Code Lottery – but her sister lives just downstairs in Mitcham, south London, for nothing.
The People’s Postal Code Lottery costs £12 a month to play, with a minimum of 33% from each ticket going to charity.
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