CHORLEY pensioner Joan Poole has scooped the ultimate Christmas gift – a jackpot prize of £25,000 in the Derian House’s lottery.
Joan’s big win makes her the second pensioner in a week to win thousands of pounds in a cash prize draw run by the charity – and both winners were named Joan!
The 79-year-old, of Astley Village, couldn’t believe her eyes when she was surprised on her driveway with a £25,000 cheque last Friday (15 December) – after playing the Derian House lottery for just five months.
“I am so shocked! You see things like this on the telly all the time and you never think that one day it could be you!” She said.
“The money will really take the pressure off, especially as a pensioner. My 80th birthday is coming up, so it will definitely come in useful.
“Derian House is a wonderful charity to support and I’ve donated knitted items before too. I never really thought about the money, it just comes out of my bank.”
Joan, who will celebrate her 80th birthday in January, is the third winner of the £25,000 prize since the lottery began five years ago.
But it wasn’t the grand prize that enticed Joan to sign up – the hospice is close to her heart after her son’s nephew was cared for by the charity.
Six other lucky people won £1,000 in the lottery in December.
The draw costs £1 per week to enter and players could win up to £25,000 whilst supporting their local children’s hospice to provide care for children and young people whose lives are too short.
Joan Poole is the second Derian House winner of the same name this week, after Joan Sagar, 83, from Burnley won £5,000 on the Derian House’s Christmas raffle last week (Friday, 15 December).
Derian House, based in Chorley, Lancashire, cares for more than 400 babies, children, young people and their families from across the North West and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It will cost £6 million to run services at Derian House in 2023, and so the charity relies on the generosity of its supporters and players of the lottery for 70p in every £1.
Mick Croskery, Head of Income Generation at Derian House, said: “We couldn’t believe it when we found out we had a £25,000 lottery winner so close to us drawing our big Christmas raffle winner.
“And then when we found out she was also called Joan we were gobsmacked – it seems like the luckiest name out there at the moment!
“Both Joans were such worthy winners and it’s one of the best parts of the job to surprise someone with such great news. Joan couldn’t believe it when we told her she’d won £25,000 just before Christmas – she promised she’d visit us at the hospice soon and even bring some posh Marks & Spencer biscuits with her!
“Thank you to everyone who plays our lottery. By taking part, you are helping us to continue to care for children and young people whose lives are too short.”
Sign up to play the Derian House lottery by visiting: www.derianhouse.co.uk/derian-lottery
ENDS
Note to Editors:
PIC CAPTION: (Derian House staff Mick Croskery, Kirsty Yates, Caroline Taylor and Sarah Proctor with winner Joan Poole – centre)
Playing Derian House Lottery for 6 months could enable a child to take part in an interactive session in the hospice’s colourful sensory room.
Playing for 12 months can provide a one-to-one counselling session with a Family Support Counsellor, helping families to cope with illness and bereavement.
Playing for 18 months could go towards a hydrotherapy session for a child giving them freedom from the confines of their medical equipment, allowing them to stretch their legs, relax and have fun.
For more information, please contact PR and Communications Officer Rebecca Feeley on rebecca.feeley@derianhouse.co.uk or call 01257 233 300 ext. 205 or mobile 07968 730738.
