Fancy winning over £600,000?!

April 19, 2011

YDMT headed north to Billingham on Saturday (16 April) to join our friends from the People’s Postcode Lottery at their Spring Postcode Millions event where a pensioner won over half a million pounds!

69-year-old Betty Smith was one of 119 people in the town of Billingham to win a share of £2.5 million with the People’s Postcode Lottery.  Betty plays with three tickets and scooped over £600,000 when her postcode TS23 3LU was unveiled as the winner.

Betty, a full time carer for her husband, William, who has Parkinson’s and grandson Conor Lambert (18) who suffers from Nystagmus syndrome was presented with her life-changing prize by local radio presenter Judie McCourt.

She said: “I was happy when I thought I’d won £3,000. When Judie pulled out a cheque for £200,000 I thought, ‘Oh my God!’ – then she pulled out two more. I can’t believe it. It’s too much to take in.”

Betty plans to spend some of her fortune on a new home.  She added: “This money will mean so much to my family. I’m going to buy a bungalow. I love where I live but my husband and grandson are both disabled and it’ll be easier for them to get around.”

Over 100 of Betty’s neighbours in the surrounding TS23 3 postcode sector also pocketed between £3,300 and £80,000 each.

Local dog Arthur joins in the celebrations wearing a People's Postcode Lottery scarf!

Judie McCourt and former Welsh international rugby league and rugby union player Scott Quinnell were on hand to deliver the good news – YDMT’s David Sharrod (Director) and Sarah Brewer (Marketing and Communications Officer) even got the chance to meet the stars!  Judie and Scott were joined on stage by X-Factor finalist Danyl Johnson who wowed the crowd with a string of hits.

David Sharrod and Sarah Brewer meet Scott Quinnell at Spring Postcode Millions event

And as one of the local charities that benefit from the charity lottery, YDMT were also on hand to tell the people of Billingham about the vital work which they help to support by playing.  40p from every £2 spent on People’s Postcode Lottery tickets goes to good causes. So far £12.4 million has been raised by players for charity to date.  YDMT has received an amazing £225,332 so far! Thank you!

Remeber, you’ve got to be in it to win it! If you’d like the chance to win big, visit www.postcodelottery.com or call freephone 0808.10.9.8.7.6.5. to find out more about People’s Postcode Lottery.