A Leicestershire family is celebrating a week they will never forget — after one sister was told her cancer is in remission and the other scooped more than £83,000 in the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Mel Woolley, 38, from Thringstone, discovered she had won £83,333 just a day after her big sister, Dee, 43, received the life-changing news that her cancer treatment had been successful.
Picture credit: People’s Postcode Lottery
Now Mel plans to mark the double celebration by taking Dee on a first-class Christmas trip to New York.
“I’m taking my sister to New York in December,” said Mel. “It’s been on our bucket list for years. We’ll go first class and turn left on the plane.”
Dee, who endured chemotherapy and radiation over the past year, said she’s looking forward to ticking off her dream of seeing the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree.
“After watching Home Alone, I’ve always wanted to see that tree in real life,” she said.
The sisters’ postcode, LE67 8NW, was one of ten in Thringstone to land the People’s Postcode Lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize — with each ticket worth £83,333. One neighbour won £249,999 after playing with three tickets.
Mel said the win had come at the perfect time after a difficult year for the whole family.
“My sister got told her cancer was in remission, and the next day I found out I’d won,” she said. “We’ve been buzzing all week. I haven’t slept!”
Picture credit: People’s Postcode Lottery
Mel added she plans to treat her parents to a holiday and “enjoy seeing where the win takes us”.
Neighbour Liz Sibson, 60, who won £249,999, believes a robin that appeared outside her caravan in Mablethorpe was a sign from her late parents that good news was coming.
“I saw a robin on the fence and thought, ‘that’s mum and dad sending me a message’,” she said. “Then I got an email saying I’d won!”
Other lucky neighbours included Jane Hislop, 57, who said the £83,333 win came after years of bad luck and health struggles, and Jacqueline and Clive Ward, who plan to upgrade their well-travelled motorhome.
Mel said the win had lifted the whole community: “It’s been a tough year, but now we’re all celebrating together. It’s amazing.”
