Lottery winner celebrates with holiday

Angela Wilks and her family will be raising a glass in memory of her dad when they go on holiday after winning the £1,000 jackpot on the Saint Francis Hospice lottery. 

Here Angela tells us why the family have been supporting the hospice since it cared for her dad Stephen Twinn and family in 2015. 

Dad had prostate cancer which had spread to his bowels. Our family came together to care for him and we were getting on with it but just after Christmas in 2014, his health deteriorated so quickly. 

We got in touch with Saint Francis Hospice and a lovely nurse called Dawn came out to see him. She made him so comfortable and she really reassured us too. 

He died the next day so the support we were given was very brief but the difference Dawn made to us at that time has always stuck with us. 

We have always known Saint Francis Hospice was there. Cancer has touched so many people’s lives and we want to support the hospice as it does such good work and no one knows when they might need it. 

We miss Dad every day. Mum found great comfort in attending the hospice’s Light Up a Life services around Christmas time, as well as other remembrance services over the years. 

Playing the lottery is my way of supporting the charity. I don’t think I truly believed I had won until I got the cheque. It was such a lovely surprise. We are going away to Devon in a few weeks so the money will go on the holiday and some extra treats for my grandson Mason, 6.

When my children were younger we used to go away with Dad and everyone loved to play in the rock pools. That’s what we will be doing with Mason.

We’re looking forward to it - it will be extra special and we will be having a drink for Dad!