Soon-to-be dad wins £4.5million London mansion in draw for just £35

Yahoo

09-05-2025

A soon-to-be dad has won a five-storey Georgian townhouse worth more than £4.5 million, plus an extra £250,000 in cash, for just £35.
Hospitality worker Roger Cana, 37, is the lucky new owner, having scooped the impressive property in London through the Omaze Million Pound House Draw.
The house, in Borough, offers uninterrupted views of The Shard from its award-winning garden and comes with a furnished interior worth £150,000.
READ MORE:https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/25021778.omaze-draw-borough-townhouse-shard-views/
Omaze winner Roger Cana swaps studio flat for dream £4.5m townhouse and garden views (Image: MARK FIELD PHOTOGRAPHY) Mr Cana had never won anything before and said: "I've always considered myself quite unlucky, as I've never won anything before this, but I guess I can't say that anymore."
Mr Cana and his wife, Shalini, who is an accountant, are expecting their first child in September.
The couple currently reside in a rented studio flat in Hayes, west London.
Elegant dining room offers the perfect space for entertaining in style (Image: Omaze) They said they could probably move into their new home "with all our belongings just packed into an Uber, maybe we'd get an Exec now though!"
They had been saving for a deposit to buy a house, but now they will never need a mortgage.
Mr Cana said: "We always celebrate good times with good food.
"We had a bottle of champagne in the house, so we popped that open and got cooking.
"Then we called our families.
"At first, they all thought we were joking.
"Then they went from disbelief to being so, so happy for us."
Mr Cana bought the winning entry for just £35.
Award-winning garden offers uninterrupted views of The Shard (Image: Omaze) He said: "We've been trying to save enough for a deposit so we can get a mortgage, but now we'll never even need one.
"Turns out all we needed was £35 and a big slice of luck.
"My wife is an accountant, but you don't have to be good with numbers to work out £35 into £4.5 million is a pretty good return."
Roger moved to the UK from Goa, India, around eight years ago and his wife is from Kerala, India.
The couple have been married for three years.
As well as the luxury townhouse, he also won a substantial cash bonus of £250,000.
Mr Cana said: "Thanks to that extra cash we also get as part of the win, we can afford to stay here for around ten years if we want to."
He said the couple would now be able to bring their family over to visit the UK for the first time.
Mr Cana added: "Our family has never been over to see us, but now they can come and stay in style.
"No sofa beds or 3-star hotels for them!"
The townhouse is situated in an enviable location in the capital city, only a short walk from Borough Market, the Tate Modern, and the South Bank.
Roger and Shalini Cana celebrate dream win with champagne and cooking at home (Image: Omaze)
Alongside making Mr Cana a new multi-millionaire, the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, London, raised £4.1 million for The King's Trust.
This charity helps young people from disadvantaged communities by supporting them in building the confidence and skills to live, learn and earn.
Jonathan Townsend, chief executive officer, The King's Trust said: "We are thrilled that an incredible £4.1 million has been raised for The King's Trust by the Omaze Million Pound House Draw.
"The funds raised will be used to form The Omaze Education Fund and will support our vital work with young people in schools and alternative education settings.
"With the support of The Omaze Education Fund, The King's Trust will be able to take a step closer to our vision of ending youth unemployment."