It's finally me! NHS worker strikes lucky on hospice lottery after 19 years

Jo Bayliss, 45, from Burntwood, decided to ditch her weekly National Lottery ticket in favour of supporting St Giles as it gave her a chance to support a local charity.

Her persistence has now paid off after 19 years.

Jo, who works as a supervisor at New Cross Hospital, recently scooped a £2,000 prize and said: "I used to play the National Lottery but the odds of winning that are pretty remote and although it raises money for good causes, it doesn't necessarily support the ones you would pick yourself.

"So when the opportunity came along to join the St Giles Hospice Lottery instead, it was something I was really keen to do.

"The hospice provides a fantastic service for people in this area and I have known a few people who have benefited from its care – so I appreciate it's a good cause that needs support from the local community.

"I knew I would have a better chance of winning the jackpot than with the National Lottery but I didn't sign up for the prizes – though it's a big bonus if you do win."

News of Jo's jackpot win came out of the blue when a cheque for £2,000 arrived in the post, as the lottery team at St Giles had been unable to contact her by phone.

She said: "It certainly was a pleasant surprise.

"I've won two or three £5 vouchers in the past but never anything more than that, so it came as a complete shock.

"Me and my partner haven't decided how to spend the money yet and we're swinging between putting it towards a holiday, maybe to Dubai, or using it to pay for some work that needs doing around the house.

"It's a choice between the frivolous and the practical."

The St Giles Hospice Lottery costs £1 a week to play, and gives away 175 weekly prizes totalling over £3,000 – including a £2,000 jackpot for one lucky winner like Jo.

Alison Jerram, Lottery manager for St Giles said: "We'd like to congratulate Jo on her jackpot win and express our gratitude to her for supporting us for so many years."