Local Hospice Lottery winner receives £25,000!

After making a monthly £15 donation to Local Hospice Lottery in support of Dorothy House, Melksham resident, Marilyn, has won an incredible £25,000!

Having played Local Hospice Lottery since November 2018, Marilyn discovered she was the lucky winner after receiving a phone call from our Fundraising Team. After the death of her husband 26 years ago, Marilyn began volunteering in our Melksham Furniture shop and spent more than eight years working there.

What to do with the winnings

Don Kennedy, Head of Fundraising Engagement, paid Marilyn a visit to present her with the winning £25,000 cheque. They also chatted about what she was going to do with her winnings. Living in a flat with a shared garden space, Marilyn told us that the residents’ garden had recently lost its tree. Marilyn would like to use some of her winnings to replace it. The communal garden provided solace to the residents during the Covid-19 pandemic, offering them a safe space to meet outdoors to chat and socialise, so the replacement tree will be something for everyone to enjoy.

In addition, Marilyn said that she was delighted to be able to help some of her friends and family with her winnings. She may even treat herself to a nice holiday to Canada – once she has sorted out her passport!

Marilyn’s incredible win demonstrates that anything is possible when it comes to Local Hospice Lottery, even if it doesn’t quite feel real at first!

“I just can’t believe it. It was truly lovely news. I am in my 80s and I have never won anything before.”
– Marilyn

How the Local Hospice Lottery supports Dorothy House

The Local Hospice Lottery was set up to provide financial support for adult and children’s hospices across Great Britain. It provides Dorothy House with regular income that’s required for us to continue providing our outstanding palliative care across 800sq miles. To date, players like Marilyn have helped to raise over £3 million for patient and family care.

“I was delighted to hear about Marilyn and her amazing jackpot win. We are so thankful to all of our Local Hospice Lottery players. The contribution they make towards patient care in our community is vital and invaluable. With a bit of luck I would love to make a few more of these calls to other lucky winners!”
– Don Kennedy, Head of Fundraising Engagement.

Dorothy House is one of many hospices throughout Great Britain supported by Local Hospice Lottery. In 2020, for every £1 entry, an average 68p was given to us. The Lottery gives between 55% and 80% of their profits in support of their local hospice. For Dorothy House, this is expected to be at least £2,700,000 over five years from April 2020.

Approximately £30,875 could fund our Hospice at Home service for one week, enabling patients to remain in the peace, comfort and familiarity of their own home at the end of their life. We are very grateful to Local Hospice Lottery for their fundraising efforts.

If you’re inspired by Marilyn’s win and would like a chance to be a Local Hospice Lottery winner, you can register here. It’s a little bit of fun that makes a big impact!