Life changing

Buxton mum bouncing after £300Thousand win

A grandmother from Buxton was bouncing with joy when she realised she’d won £300,000 on a National Lottery Scratchcard. Catherine Heathcote, 54, and her husband Andrew, 54, described it as the ‘best week ever’ having celebrated her birthday only days prior.

Best gift of all

They now plan to use their winnings to help support their four children and three grandchildren.

“It’s unbelievable. My family’s whole life has just changed in an instance. It’s every mother’s dream that they are able to financially support their children and I get to do just that.

“I’ll never forget their faces when I told them I would help put them on the property ladder. Having rented for so long, this win has come at the perfect time. It really is a blessing.”

Lucky number 13

Catherine, who works as a part-time cleaner at a nearby hotel, was going about her daily routine when she decided to pop in to her local supermarket to buy the winning scratchcard.

“I was out with Andrew and two of my daughters when we saw the scratchcards on display. There must have been something about the £300,000 Blue scratchcard that caught my eye. I was joking with my daughter because it was number 13 on the counter and that it should be unlucky but for some reason, I just felt compelled to it.

“We went back to my car when I decided to scratch it. The next thing I remember seeing was 300 and I said to myself ‘Wow! I’ve won £300, that’s fantastic!’ It was only when I scratched further that I discovered I had actually won £300,000!

“I think the colour drained from my face. The girls and I went back and forth trying to figure out whether I had actually won the top prize. When we were convinced that I had, we just screamed and screamed. People in the cars next to us must have been so confused.”

Cloud 9

Andrew, who works as a builder, described their winning feeling.

“It was quite late at night when we got home but we were just full of adrenaline. We were bouncing around the house, giddy like schoolchildren. I don’t think either of us slept a wink that night, we were on cloud nine.”

Family time

The pair, who have been married for 26 years, have no plans to give up work but are looking at spending more quality time with their family.

Catherine said, “I’m someone who likes to be busy so I don’t think retirement is for me. I never thought I would be in this position where I can financially support my family like this. You always hope that it happens to you but when it does, you just can’t believe it.

“I’m definitely going to spoil my grandkids and treat them to little presents as they grow up.”

13th July 2018

The National Lottery has been changing the lives of winners and supporting good causes across the UK since 1994. In that time, there have been more than 7,000 new millionaires created and by playing The National Lottery you raise over £4 million for Good Causes every dayΔ.

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