A mum-of-eight from Penlan is looking forward to buying her dream bungalow after a challenging few months of shielding.
Sue Davies (64) and husband Alan (60), are already house-hunting after winning the top Thunderball prize on the Saturday 15 August 2020 draw. Alan stopped working in 2008, when their son Karl, now 23, was diagnosed with cancer. While he has thankfully made a good recovery, Sue also stopped working as a machinist to become Karl’s carer and has various health issues of her own, including the lung condition COPD, chronic asthma and severe arthritis.
They have lived in their 3-bedroom council house for eight years. Sue said: “It will be lovely to be able to own our own home. We have realised over these last few months, with spending so much time at home, that this isn’t the most suitable home for us anymore. I find it difficult to get around and have been dreaming about a bungalow throughout lockdown, because these stairs are becoming more and more difficult, as my health has deteriorated. It’s very hard to get around. We haven’t had much luck as a family over the years, so this win is really welcome.”
Sue and Alan have regularly played Thunderball over the years. Sue spoke about the moment she found out she was £500,000 richer, thanks to her line of lucky numbers, which mark various family members’ birthdays and have changed over the years, according to the new birthdays of new grandchildren.
The grandmother of eight said: “We pick up our tickets with the weekly shopping on a Friday and then Alan checks them on the iPad on the Saturday. He came upstairs to tell me, and I just couldn’t believe it – I can’t repeat what I actually said! I rang our three daughters then to tell them the good news.
“Our Thunderball number is 12, which is the birthdays of one of our young grandsons. We have won the odd fiver here and there over the years, but winning half a million pounds is amazing! I’ve actually surprised myself with how calm I’ve remained about it all. After a tough few months, this really is great news. We’re looking forward to celebrating at home with the family and plenty of champagne when we can!”
Thanks to National Lottery players, up to £600M is being used by charities and organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak across the arts, community and charity, heritage, education, environment and sport sectors. This includes up to £300M in funding support from the National Lottery Community Fund, which is being used over the next six months to help groups best placed to support people and communities through the crisis – from helping support food banks to causes that combat loneliness and isolation, support for the elderly and projects that aid health in the community.
The lucky couple bought their winning Thunderball ticket from Asda Gorseinon, Heol y Mynydd, Gorseinon, Mid Glamorgan, SA4 4BZ. The winning numbers for the draw of Saturday 15 August were 1,10,15, 21, 39 and the Thunderball was 12.
