What would you do if you won the lottery?
This year’s Lotto winners plan to spend their money in very different ways – from building a crazy golf course, to buying a steam train.
David Lawrence from Surrey wants a crazy golf course in his back garden to help those with mental health and social care needs after winning £1m in September.
A philanthropist, Mr Lawrence has spent more than 30 years fundraising for good causes and said he believed in the power of altruism.
He said: “I am a true believer that it really is better to give than to receive and my fundraising and charity work is more than just a passion for me, it’s my life’s work.
“It may sound a little crazy but I’ve seen over the years that physically engaging activities really do help and inspire young adults with mental health and social care needs.”
He hopes many can benefit from his golf course which is also one of his passions.
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Meanwhile, 70-year-old grandmother Doris Stanbridge was the lucky winner of £10,000 a month, every month, for 30 years and has planned holidays since her retirement.
She said: “It still seems a bit strange when I think about the win and that I will get that money every month for 30 years. It gives me a reason to be around until I am 100.”
Steam train enthusiast Neil Leighton from Hereford plans to get one of his own after he landed a £1m prize on an Instant Win Game last month.
He said: “Ever since my grandpa took me to see my first steam train when I was three, I have been fascinated.”
Mr Leighton said that “if someone had told me I’d be a millionaire I’d… have laughed. Just goes to show, magic can happen”.
And Karleen Reece and her husband Mark are going to treat their three children and then transition to fostering.
Ms Reece said: “I’ve always wanted to foster children. Mark and I discussed it many years ago and then we had our own.”
Her three kids will be leaving home soon and the lottery win has given the mother a chance to become a caregiver.
“I have too much love to give,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to foster but never had the right circumstances.
“The win will allow me to do this.”
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The biggest jackpot won in the UK this year was £111.7m, which was taken home by an anonymous single ticket holder back in June.
A new National Lottery millionaire was made every day on average in 2023 – with more than £4.5bn paid out in total and 757 National Lottery players winning a major prize of £50,000 or above this year.
In the last reported financial year, almost £1.9bn was raised for National Lottery Good Causes, which goes towards thousands of projects aiming to make a difference in communities across the country.
Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at the National Lottery, said: “Lives are being changed every day – all with a little pink ticket.”
There’s still a chance to become a millionaire this year with a £15m Lotto “Must Be Won” jackpot up for grabs on 30 December.
