A mum with an incurable condition which means her heart could stop at any moment is raffling off her dream home for £2 a ticket.
Jennifer Matthews, 48, was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia in 2016 and, after collapsing twice in 2018 and 2019, she has not been able to work as much.
The heart condition can't be treated, means the mum-of-two has a fast and abnormal heart rate and it has nearly taken her life on multiple occasions.
She had heart surgery in mid-2019 to try to boost her electrolytes to a normal level, but sadly it was unsuccessful.
Now Jennifer and her husband David, 48, were forced to make the difficult decision to sell their home and downscale as her health meant she wasn’t able to work as much.
The couple built the five-bed detached house, named Bramble Lodge, near Addlington in Lancashire, from the ground up eight years ago - and were once neighbours of former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs.
Jennifer, who runs an electrical engineering company, said she was saddened to sell her “dream house” but felt this was an opportunity for another family to get the deal of a lifetime for just £2.
The stunning luxury home has five double bedrooms, a massive garden, a £7,000 Aga cooker and comes with a 2004 Ferrari 360 Spider which is “thrilling” to drive, according to the couple.
Jennifer, from Wigan, said: “I’ve got a fatal heart condition which can’t be treated. It’s nearly taken my life a few times.
“We’re going through the process of selling the house because of it. I come from nothing and I thought I’d love someone to have a house like this and have a Ferrari.
“Ryan Giggs used to live across the street, it’s a lovely area. Someone could get a dream house for just £2.
“This year has been so gloomy, and I think this could be one way to make your entire year."
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Jennifer said: “I think it’s a dream house because everyone has always told us that if they’d won the lottery they’d buy my house.
“And it’s marvellous and thrilling driving a Ferrari, and it’s not every day you get to ride in one.”
The couple dipped into their savings and forked out nearly £400,000 buying the land, getting planning permissions and then building and renovating the property over eight years.
They had tried to sell it the “conventional way” but due to covid it was an initial struggle.
But when the lockdown ended, they were bombarded with viewings and Jennifer said she struggled to deal with them as she was exhausted and worried about her health.
After spotting a different house which had just been sold on the raffle website Raffall.com, she decided to try her luck there.
Jennifer said: “We bought the land in 2012 and moved in August 2012, built it all in seven months.
“We worked so hard, poured our heart and soul into the house.
“When the restrictions ended we were inundated with viewings and a few offers.
“But it made matters worse because I couldn’t manage all the viewings, running my business, with my children, my dogs, five six viewings a day. I was shattered.
“I saw this other house come up for a raffle and wondered if it was real.
“I come from nothing and I thought I’d love someone to have a house like this and have a Ferrari.”
You can buy a tickets for the raffle by clicking here.
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