Latest news with #lotterywin
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stanley lottery winner fulfils 'every parent's dream'
A builder who won £1m on the National Lottery says he has fulfilled "every parent's dream" by paying off his four daughters' Gillings, of Stanley, County Durham, said he would "never forget" phoning his children to tell them about the the triumph was accompanied by heartbreak as his 85-year-old father, who had prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease, died two days later."I like to think knowing [my wife] Caroline and I, and the girls, were all well set up for the future meant he slipped away more peacefully," Mr Gillings said. The 61-year-old added: "I told dad we'd won a million and, true to character, his first words were 'don't lie to us!'"My dad always said 'celebrate the wins'. That's exactly what we intend to do and I've enjoyed telling everyone I've bumped into since that we've won."We've always worked hard and helped our kids where we can, but this is a whole other level. Surely it's every parent's dream."I'll never forget phoning our daughters to tell them that their mortgages were being paid off. It generated quite a bit of screaming and joy." Mr Gillings has been a builder since he left school and continued to work in the days after the win but might now focus on his own project - developing a plot of land he bought with a friend some years and his wife, 54, will also use the money to support Breast Cancer Awareness after close family members were affected by the Gillings, a keen breeder of endangered birds such the Bali myna, hopes to spot one in the wild with a visit to Indonesia.A trip to Machu Picchu, in Peru, is also on the cards for the Gillings won the Lotto game on 26 March with the numbers 14, 17, 18, 22, 34 and 58. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Builder had to convince poorly father he really had won £1m on lottery
A builder who won £1 million on the National Lottery had to convince his seriously ill father that he really had become a millionaire. Sadly, Terry Gillings' 85-year-old father died two days after hearing about the County Durham family's life-changing win. But Mr Gillings, 61, and wife Caroline, 54, were determined to enjoy their good fortune which they will share with their four daughters. Mr Gillings, whose father had prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease, said: 'I told dad we'd won a million and, true to character, his first words were 'piss off, don't lie to us!' 'I like to think knowing Caroline and I, and the girls, were all well set up for the future meant he slipped away more peacefully. 'My dad always said celebrate the wins, that's exactly what we intend to do and I've enjoyed telling everyone I've bumped into since that we've won.' The couple will use their win to pay off their daughters' mortgages, and Mr Gillings said: 'We've always worked hard and helped our kids where we can but this is a whole other level – surely it's every parent's dream. 'We decided pretty much straight away that we wanted the girls to benefit from our luck. 'I'll never forget phoning our daughters to tell them that their mortgages were being paid off, it generated quite a bit of screaming and joy.' Mr Gillings has been a builder since he left school and continued to work in the days after the win but might now focus on his own project, developing a plot of land he bought with a friend some years ago. The couple will also use money to support Breast Cancer Awareness after close family members were affected by the condition. He said: 'We've had our share of bad luck and hopefully by donating some of our win we can help other families to be luckier when it comes to this horrible disease.' Mr and Mrs Gillings also plan to visit Indonesia to see the endangered Bali myna birds, which he breeds, and to visit Machu Picchu in Peru. They won the Lotto game on March 26 with the numbers 14, 17, 18, 22, 34 and 58.
CTV News
12 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Long-time Orillia lottery player hits the jackpot
Orillia man kept win a secret from his family until a recent big reveal barbecue. Tue., June 3, 2025. Paul Cousineau of Orillia won $5 million in the Lotto 6/49 Classic Jackpot on March 19. 'It was a regular day when I decided to pick up a ticket at my usual store. I've been buying my tickets there for years,' he said. Cousineau said he didn't check his tickets immediately. 'I waited about four weeks. By then, I had over 20 tickets to check,' he said. When he finally went to the store to validate his ticket, the lottery terminal froze. 'I remained calm and carried on with my day,' he said. When asked how it feels to win the lottery, Cousineau said, 'It's absolutely surreal. I'm overjoyed and shaking. All the anticipation I've felt has led to this moment, and it's a dream come true.' To keep the news under wraps before making a big announcement to his family, Paul deliberately downplayed his win, even when his grandson questioned him. 'Unexpectedly, my grandson checked my ticket and asked, 'Did you win the jackpot?' I told him, 'No, but I won $5,000!'' 'I wanted to keep my win a secret until I had the cheque in hand. Now, I have a big reveal planned for our family barbecue.' There is a bittersweet element to his win. Cousineau said the past year has been a difficult time for him. 'I lost my wife last year. Her dream was to take an Alaskan cruise, and I want to honour that by going on one for my 52nd birthday this fall. 'I'll have her urn with me, so in a way, she'll be with me on this trip.'
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Thank goodness they send those reminders,' Markham man says he missed initial email about $1M lotto win
Markham resident Peter Hedgecock had to be reminded that he won the $1-million Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball Draw in March. 'I hadn't seen the original email OLG sent about my win,' Hedgecock told the lottery commission when he visited its Toronto prize centre to claim his winnings. 'I only realized I'd won big when I received a second reminder email.' However, even after reading that email, Hedgecock remained somewhat skeptical about his win. 'When I read it, I was in a state of shock — half of me didn't believe it. Thank goodness they send those reminders!' he said. Hedgecock, who has been playing the lottery for nearly 20 years, also recounted how he shared the news with his wife, who was sleeping at the time. 'I went to bed and whispered to her, 'Honey, we won $1 million.' She was half asleep and told me to go away,' he said. The father of three, who purchased his ticket online, shared that he plans to put his winnings toward his retirement. 'Winning is a humbling feeling,' he told OLG with a smile.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Thank goodness they send those reminders,' Markham man says after winning $1-million Gold Ball draw
Markham resident Peter Hedgecock had to be reminded that he won the $1-million Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball Draw in March. 'I hadn't seen the original email OLG sent about my win,' Hedgecock told the lottery commission when he visited its Toronto prize centre to claim his winnings. 'I only realized I'd won big when I received a second reminder email.' However, even after reading that email, Hedgecock remained somewhat skeptical about his win. 'When I read it, I was in a state of shock — half of me didn't believe it. Thank goodness they send those reminders!' he said. Hedgecock, who has been playing the lottery for nearly 20 years, also recounted how he shared the news with his wife, who was sleeping at the time. 'I went to bed and whispered to her, 'Honey, we won $1 million.' She was half asleep and told me to go away,' he said. The father of three, who purchased his ticket online, shared that he plans to put his winnings toward his retirement. 'Winning is a humbling feeling,' he told OLG with a smile.
