 St Giles Hospice's jackpot winner has scooped £4,000 in the Big Bonanza Draw - and immediately pledged to help the charity which touched her family's lives.
Glynis Jones, undergraduate co-ordinator at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, said she "still can't believe" she has won first prize, adding that it was "a wonderful end to a difficult year".
Tragically, Mrs Jones' 57-year-old husband David was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in February 2005. The lecturer in law at the University of Central England was cared for by staff at St Giles, receiving both medical treatment and emotional support through his illness. He passed away at the hospice in January 2006.
Mrs Jones, 54, of Stonnall near Shenstone, said: "I had no idea of the range of services the hospice provided until David's illness, but they have touched our lives. The nurses and staff looked after him so well and offered myself and our children, Adam and Helen, outstanding support.
"David used to look forward to going to the Day Hospice each week, and kept going even when he was very ill. Although I haven't decided what to do with all the prize money, I will be making a £1,000 donation to the Day Hospice at St Giles - it meant so much to David."
More than 66,000 tickets were sold in the run up to the draw on 21st December, raising a massive £50,000 to help the hospice care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses.
There were 269 prizes up for grabs with a total prize fund of £10,000. In addition to the jackpot two second prize winners - one from Burton and one from Tamworth - each won £1,000. Other major prizes included £500, £200 and £50 cash, with 250 winners each receiving special £5 St Giles Hospice vouchers.
Richard Simmonite, St Giles Hospice Promotions' Commercial Manager, said: "Our congratulations go to Mrs Jones and we are extremely touched at her pledge to make such a generous donation to the Day Hospice.
"We would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part - every penny of the money raised through the Big Draw supports the valuable work St Giles Hospice does in caring for people in need from our local community."
Since the Big Draw began in 2003, it has raised a total of £130,000 for St Giles Hospice.
The hospice's weekly Lottery Draw is in its 10th successful year. The first lucky winner of 2007 is Mr R Pearce from Cannock, who scooped the £2000 prize.
St Giles Hospice spends over £5million every year providing its specialist services. With just a third of this funded by the Government, St Giles relies heavily on donations and fundraising - including proceeds from the St Giles Hospice Lottery, the hospice's network of 13 charity shops and initiatives such as the Big Bonanza Draw.
St Giles Hospice is one of the best-known and most respected charities in the region, offering high-quality nursing and medical care for people with cancer and other serious illness, as well as providing support for their families and carers.
Patients come from across the hospice's catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west - and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.
Care is offered either at the hospice in Whittington, near Lichfield, or in patients' own homes across the region, where community nurses have made over 6,000 visits over the past twelve months.
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