Opportunity knocks for Lotto winner Brian

Aug. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- After signing up to the St Peter’s Hospice Local Lotto when approached by a doorstep canvasser, Brian Hopkinson, 63, is now celebrating winning £1000.

The South Gloucestershire councillor joined the scheme, which costs £1 per week, three-months ago and meant he only paid £13.02 before winning the first prize. Despite his big win Brian says he will continue playing the lotto:

“It feels really great to do a good deed and also be rewarded for it, so I’m definitely going to keep playing. For just £1 per week you are raising money for a fantastic cause and as I have proved, the odds are much better than playing the National Lottery!”

Brian from Stoke Lodge, has had links with the charity in the past when his father, ex-Patchway Stationmaster Harry Hopkinson, was a patient at the hospice’s Day Centre. So when a charity lotto canvasser knocked on his door he was happy to sign up.

“The hospice cared for my father when he was very ill and the facilities and staff were fantastic. It’s terrible to see loved ones in those circumstances but my family and I found that St Peter’s Hospice made the difficult time as comfortable as possible.

“The great thing about the lotto is that the money you put towards it stays in the community and funds a great local facility like St Peter’s Hospice. It is well worth signing up.”

The St Peter’s Hospice Lotto was launched in August 2009 and has reached 4000 members in that time. A weekly draw takes place every Friday when a five-digit number is selected. The first prize is a guaranteed weekly payout of £1000, the second prize is a rollover, so can be anything from £150 to £5000 and the third prize is a hotel break for two.

Anna Ross, Lotto manager at St Peter’s Hospice said: “The best part of my job by far is making that phone call every Friday morning to tell someone they have won £1000! In these times, everyone can do with a bit of extra cash so it’s great to be able to make someone’s day.

“At St Peter’s Hospice we are only funded by the government for 23% of our £6 million annual costs and the rest of that money we need to raise ourselves. Schemes like the Local Lotto are perfect because people can have fun playing and have the chance to get something out of it, while donating money to a good cause.

“It’s really easy to sign up and it’s only £1 a week. All the information is on our website and you can now join online to make it even easier!

“Congratulations to Brian, I hope he enjoys spending his winnings!”

Brian continued: “It was great to get that phone call from Anna; it was a really pleasant surprise. To think of how much money I’ve spent over the years on the National Lottery and now I’ve won my local one after just a few months of playing!”

For more information or to sign up to the St Peter’s Hospice Local Lotto visit www.stpetershospice.org.uk