A couple who lost their son to Covid this year have won two lottery prizes in two weeks - and plan to use the cash for a memorial.
Susan Slater and her husband, from Canvey Island, Essex, scooped more than £30,000 in two People's Postcode Lottery draws.
They are mourning their son Steve, who they were unable to give a proper send off because of coronavirus restrictions, Essex Live reports.
Alongside four of their neighbours, Susan and her husband scooped a prize of £1,000 each with People’s Postcode Lottery on July 15.
Just two weeks later, lightning struck twice for the couple when SS8 0EA won again, this time netting the neighbours £30,000 per ticket.
With two wins in just a fortnight, Susan, 74, said she couldn’t believe it when she found out that she had won again: “When I got the phone call for this, I’d told quite a few people that I’d won £1,000 and I thought ‘this is a wind-up, someone is winding me up!’
"Nowhere in my imagination did I think I was going to be lucky enough to win £30,000.”
After Susan lost her son, restrictions meant the family were unable to give the beloved dad-of-two the send off that they wanted.
After learning of her win, Susan said she plans to put some of her winnings towards a memorial.
“In August we’re going to have a big memorial for him," she said. "We want to celebrate him properly.
"I just want everyone to come and raise a glass for Steve.”
Susan added that she was so pleased for her winning neighbours and loved that her community was winning together.
She said: “Lots of people are helping me to do it. It’s old Canvey and we are a really close-knit group.”
One lucky neighbour, playing with two tickets, pocketed £62,000 after the double win.
When asked if she had anything in mind for herself after winning the money, Susan said she was hoping to treat her family with her daughter, daughter-in-law, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren on her mind.
“Obviously, I should think they’ll be getting a little bit," she said. "My husband and I have been married for 55 years this year and we always love a holiday, so this one is going to be an extra special holiday.
"We love cruising so it will be quite a nice long cruise!”
People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson sent his well-wishes to all the winners, saying: “It was such a pleasure to bring this surprise to Susan, it’s been a very tough year for her and the family and I’m especially happy that we could bring her and the neighbours who have rallied round them a bit of good news after a difficult time.
“A massive congratulations to Susan and all our other winners on Canvey!”
