Lottery player wins big - and gives it all back

A Middlesbrough Lottery player has won a big cash prize and decided to give it all back to her chosen cause.

The Middlesbrough woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, won a total of £2,000 on the lottery, and has donated all her winnings back to the Friends of Fairy Dell.

Paul Cutter, Task Day Organiser for Friends of Fairy Dell, said: “It’s wonderful that we’ve received this generous donation to our group.

“This lady is very close to us, has been with us a long time and does an awful lot for us.

“For her to donate her winnings back to the group is a lovely gesture that Fairy Dell will benefit a lot from.”

Formed in 2005, Friends of Fairy Dell is a volunteer group that promotes and maintains Fairy Dell, making sure it stays an area of natural beauty for all to enjoy.

The 19-strong group meets weekly at the ‘acorns’ entrance of Fairy Dell Park to undertake their work, which includes footpath, lake grid and woodland maintenance, litter picking and a range of repairs.

Middlesbrough Deputy Mayor Councillor Mieka Smiles said: “Well done to the Friends of Fairy Dell for all the hard work they put into maintaining Fairy Dell, which is one of Middlesbrough’s most beautiful green spaces.

“It’s great to see that we’ve had yet another Middlesbrough Lottery player with a big win, and it’s even greater to see that they’ve donated it to the cause which is close to their heart.

“What a lovely gesture!”

Tickets for the Middlesbrough Lottery cost just £1, and the lottery is on course to raise over £37,000 for local good causes this year, with 70 now benefiting from free Lottery funding.

Sports clubs, schools, charities, green groups and more can sign up today in minutes on the Middlesbrough Lottery website.

The Friends of Fairy Dell are looking for more volunteers to help them complete their work. People able to help them with either administrative or physical work can get in touch via the Friends of Fairy Dell Facebook page.