Local resident, Bill, woke up this morning to an extra £10,000 in their bank account, thanks to a huge win on Bolton Hospice’s weekly lottery.

Bill, from Farnworth, was surprised on their doorstep by the hospice lottery team, who arrived to tell him he was lucky winner of the highly anticipated £10,000 rollover prize.

Growing by £200 each week if not won, the rollover pot starts at £200, and was last won by former hospice volunteer, Pauline, when the prize pot stood at £7,800.

Since resetting to its starting value, anticipation has grown amongst the pool of lottery players, as everyone began to wonder when the rollover might be won again. The jackpot surpassed previous winner Pauline’s payout in May, and each weekly draw since then has been a nail-biting experience.

Last week, when the £9,800 prize went unwon, attention turned to yesterday’s guaranteed £10,000 win, with the lottery team hatching their surprise plan.

Upon drawing the winning numbers, Lottery Lead, Kerry Formston, and Fundraising and Lottery Manager, Angela Griffiths, took to the streets of Bolton yesterday, heading to Bill’s home in Farnworth to surprise him with the news.

Bill was thrilled to find out they were a winner on the weekly lottery, and even more amazed to learn that they’d be a whopping £10,000 richer, all thanks to their £2 per week stake in the draw.

Describing how they felt after learning about the win, Bill said, “Thanks very much! I wasn’t expecting that at all! I’ve been playing since 2014 and I just carry on playing, but I’d never have expected to win £10,000. I’m going to donate some back, and then I’m sure I’ll find something to spend the rest on!”

Kerry Formston, Lottery Lead at Bolton Hospice added, “I can’t even begin to explain how exciting this is. We relaunched out lottery with the new rollover prize almost exactly 2 years ago, and have spent those two years wondering if we’d ever be able to surprise someone with that £10,000 jackpot… and today’s been that day!

“Not only was it such a special opportunity to surprise Bill, the excitement it’s built up has also been a great way to promote our lottery and its prizes, and the difference our players make to local people facing life-limiting illnesses.”

As well as the rollover prize, the Bolton Hospice lottery also boasts 37 other cash prizes each week, including a guaranteed £1000 winner.

For just £2 per week, players can support Bolton Hospice’s specialist services whilst being in with the chance of a bank account-boosting win each week.

To sign up to the lottery, visit Bolton Hospice’s website or call 01204 663 077.