West Lothian £4m lotto winner tells how win tainted with sadness after death of husband

West Lothian £4m lotto winner shares how win was overshadowed by the passing of her husband

Donna Hendry, a resident of West Lothian, recently disclosed how her joy of winning a £4 million jackpot was marred by the sorrow of losing her husband. Despite the bittersweet victory, Donna, 54, opened up about the heartbreak she experienced after her husband, David, passed away shortly after they claimed their £4,078,509 prize in January 2015. The couple had been together for three decades, with 23 years of marriage, and decided to leave their jobs and purchase a larger home in the same area after winning the lottery. They also fulfilled a dream of travelling to Memphis together before David’s diagnosis in 2020, and Donna lamented, “He died four months later, and our son was only 18 at the time. He’s just graduated with a first, and I know his father would have been so proud.”

As the National Lottery commemorates the 30th anniversary of the first lottery tickets being sold, Donna joined other winners from across the UK to celebrate their life-changing fortunes. Lesley Higgins, 63, and her husband Fred, 74, were among the fortunate winners, bagging an incredible £57,975,367 EuroMillions jackpot in July 2018. The couple now resides on an expansive 850-acre estate near Perth, which they acquired following their monumental win. Lesley credited the lottery win with potentially saving Fred’s life after it allowed them to afford a custom-made kilt for a family wedding, where they noticed his significant weight loss led to a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Additionally, Brian Sharp, 63, from Musselburgh, East Lothian, clinched a £2,033,705 Lotto jackpot in June 2010 while working an overnight shift as an electrician at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Living with his wife Ann, 62, they fulfilled their dream of owning a five-bedroom house by the river they once admired as a young couple. Brian’s post-win goal is to travel the world and attend every Formula 1 Grand Prix, where they have had close encounters with racing legends like Damon Hill and David Coulthard.

Over the past three decades, the National Lottery has been instrumental in supporting various charitable causes and community projects across the UK and the Isle of Man. Since its inception in 1994, the lottery has raised over £49 billion for charitable endeavours, disbursing grants to more than 690,000 projects and organisations to make a positive impact in local communities. With £30 million being donated to causes every week, the National Lottery continues to create opportunities for individuals and communities to thrive.

In a special photoshoot to mark the 30-year milestone, renowned celebrity photographer Rankin captured 30 National Lottery winners, valued at over £190 million collectively. Among them were three Scottish winners – Lesley, Donna, and Brian – whose combined winnings totalled £64 million. These intimate portraits and group shots serve as a testament to the transformative power of the lottery in changing the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Rankin expressed his privilege in meeting these extraordinary winners and delving into their unique stories, highlighting the profound impact of their lottery wins on their lives.

The lottery winners shared touching anecdotes during the photoshoot, ranging from life-saving medical interventions to personal milestones made possible by their newfound wealth. Ray Wragg, 86, from Sheffield, who won a £7,649,520 Lotto jackpot in January 2000 with his late wife, Barbara, generously distributed a significant portion of their winnings to family, friends, hospitals, and charitable causes. Sarah Cockings, 40, from Whitley Bay, used her £3,045,705 Lotto jackpot win in April 2005 to fund breast enhancement surgeries for herself and her sisters.

In Scotland alone, over 692 millionaires have been created since the inception of the National Lottery, with £3.8 billion raised to support numerous projects and charities across the country. Notable landmarks and initiatives such as the Kelpies, V&A Dundee, and Hampden Park have been made possible through National Lottery funding, empowering communities and athletes alike. As the lottery continues to change lives and foster positive change, lottery winners like Lesley, Donna, and Brian reflect on the remarkable impact their winnings have had on their lives and the causes they hold dear.

Insights and Summary:
The story of Donna Hendry winning a £4 million lottery jackpot, only to be struck by the tragedy of losing her husband, serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of life’s fortunes. Despite the immense wealth brought by the lottery win, the emotional toll of losing a loved one underscores the fragility of joy and sorrow intertwined. The narratives of other lottery winners, such as Lesley Higgins and Brian Sharp, further illustrate how financial windfalls can transform lives, enabling dreams to be realised and critical interventions to be made. The National Lottery’s enduring impact on local communities and charitable causes reflects a legacy of generosity and hope that continues to resonate across the UK and beyond.