Five neighbours in March, Cambridgeshire, are the latest winners of the Postcode Lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize. Each every ticket was worth £200,000.
Those to benefit include an inspiring young man who has overcome huge hurdles after being born with cerebral palsy who bagged a £200,000 lottery prize, then declared: “I’m excited for the new chapter in my life.”
Kenny Cox, 29, works full-time in local government administration and is weeks away from graduating with a business degree – despite his mum being told he’d never walk or talk when he was born.
Now he is making plans to move home, buy a new car and go on a Greek islands cruise adventure after bagging the windfall on People’s Postcode Lottery.
Kenny and mum Lynette, 44, started sobbing when his whopping cheque was revealed.
He said: “It’s overwhelming, but I’m excited for the new chapter in my life.
“It feels good to win even £10, but I’ve been on tenterhooks with this. This is life changing. It’s going to make a lot of difference. It’s hard to put into words, but I wasn’t expecting £200,000.
“I’m amazed and astounded that this has happened to me because normally it doesn’t. I’m so over the moon.”
Kenny shared a £1m pot with four other neighbours in March after PE15 9LU landed Postcode Lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize on Saturday, June 29.
Kenny was born 10 weeks early with a brain bleed which left him with his lifelong condition. But mum Lynette, who also has five other sons and five daughters, told how he has battled to build his life – despite being bullied all through school.
The full-time carer said: “The doctors told me he would never walk or talk or do anything. He has struggled and struggled and struggled. He’s been bullied through school and everything.
“I’m so happy for him. He’s been through so much, but he’s gotten through everything that has been thrown at him.
“I’m so happy for him. He can get a house and have a bit of money for himself. I’m really proud of him.”
Kenny has been hoping to quit his rented end terrace bungalow – and is now dreaming of a two bedroom home in the area
But first on his wish list is a new car – probably a Vauxhall Mokka or Crossland – and a holiday.
He said: “I’ll be able to do what I want to do. Go on holiday, maybe a Greek islands cruise, and get a new car. I’ll probably even treat the family to a holiday.
“But it’s about not wasting money and being sensible with it.”
Kenny told how he may throw a party later in the year for friends and family, which also includes seven nieces and nephews, to mark a triple celebration.
He said: “I’ve been studying for a business degree through the Open University for the past six years. I graduate this year at the end of October, and I’d like to go into the management side of local government.
“I might have a party later in the year. I’m 30 in September and graduate after that so I might wait and celebrate three things – my win, graduating and my birthday.”
Family friend Liz Brighton, 62, who turned up to watch the presentation, said: “If anyone in this world deserves this, it is Kenny.”
Along the road, Sally Wing, 38, told how she ignored her husband’s call to cancel her lottery ticket two months ago – and won £200,000.
Relieved hubby Jonny, 41, whirled round, threw his hands in the air then started rubbing his face after seeing his wife’s cheque.
The traffic management operator said: “I said to her that she should cancel it two months ago. But she never listens to me anyway. Now I’m glad she ignored me. I would have been crying today.”
Mum-of-two Sally added: “I wasn’t going to do what he said anyway.”
Now the hospital operating department practitioner is planning a dream family trip to Walt Disney World in Florida with their daughter, 12, and six-year-old son – and said it could accelerate plans for a new home.
Sally said: “Oh my God! I didn’t think it would be that much. You have no idea how much this means to me. I had some bubbly in the fridge just in case.
“We would like to stay in March. All my family are here. We would also like to take the kids to Florida. That would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. We’re already booked to go to Benidorm this year, so maybe next year.”
Jonny added: “I’m speechless. Sally was like, ‘it is going to be a grand’. She works so hard at the hospital. She deserves this. You always dream that something like this might happen, but you never think that it will.
On the opposite side of the street, Tracy Harper, 60, and car valet firm owner husband Paul, 61, hugged each other as they screamed with joy with other family members who watched as her £200,000 cheque was revealed.
Now the mum-of-two is planning a big family bash, a luxury beach holiday and helping her two grown-up sons.
The house building firm sales executive said: “I don’t believe it. I didn’t think I would ever win anything. I’ve never ever seen this kind of money. I’m extremely happy. It means a whole different perspective on my life.
“I feel very wobbly. I previously felt nauseous, but now I’m just wobbly.
“I work full time and Paul works hard. He’ll never pack up work. But he can at least calm down a bit. I’m full-time at the moment, but I’ve got to speak to the best boss in the world to see if I can go part-time.
“I looked in the mirror as I closed the show home up and said a little prayer that whatever it was would be more than I’ve got.
“We’re going to have a bloody good time with it.”
Grandmother-of-one Tracy said: “Family is the most important thing to me. We’ll do something with the family. We’ve never been in this position…nowhere near. We’ll have a party of some kind. Probably a huge barbecue.
“I want to go somewhere that has beautiful beaches. Probably the Maldives. We got married in Mexico and that was amazing so that might also be a possibility.
Tracy and her winning neighbours know that by playing Postcode Lottery, they’re also supporting local, national and international charities.
Their win means that local charities have benefitted from the Millionaire Street prize.
CP Learning Trust has been awarded £40,000 in funding by Postcode Community Trust.
The charity, which is celebrating its 21st year serving the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region, aims to provide innovative, life wide learning opportunities to give people a second chance at education and has supported over 42,000 people to date.
Sara Basuc, CEO of CP Learning Trust said: “For a small charity like ours, it is incredible to be receiving £40,000 in funding. It will certainly give us a huge boost in our ability to deliver vital support to our community.”
The charity launched the Fenland Orchards Project four years ago, creating an inclusive space for learning heritage skills, which aim to get vulnerable adults and the wider community back into the great outdoors in a social green space.
The Fenland Orchards Project has proved invaluable in providing a safe space for learning and the funding we’ve received, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, is going to directly fund community engagement activities and workshops to support the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Other charities to benefit:
Ormiston Families – £60,000
Working with children, young people and their families in the East of England to help them live safer, healthier lives. Their range of services include support for families affected by the imprisonment or offending behaviour of a relative.
Fenland Area Community Enterprise Trust (FACET) – £60,000
Providing training and day care for adults with any form of disability within the Fenland area. This helps their students to live independently, acquire new work-based skills and prepare for and move into work.
March & District Museum- £10,000
Visitors are offered insight into the local community’s history through interesting displays and collections. Interactive elements and audio points also help to guide people through the history of the town.
How it works
People’s Postcode Lottery costs £12 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day. People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £1.3billion for thousands of charities and local good causes.
Prizes include ‘Millionaire Street’ – £1 million every Saturday – £30,000 on Sundays and a multi-million-pound prize is won each month.
This prize was promoted on behalf of Postcode International Trust which supports organisations including Action Against Hunger, British Red Cross and CARE International UK.
To find out more, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk.
