A passionate supporter of the veterans’ community whose family served in the military is the proud winner of the top monthly prize in the Veterans Lottery.
Joseph Curran said that his £7,000 win couldn’t have come at a better time, as he’s going to use his winnings to pay for new facilities in his home to help his wife.
The 72-year-old didn’t serve in the military, but his father, grandfather and father-in-law all did, and his home in Maldon is decorated with pictures and tributes to his family’s dedicated service.
He lovingly refers to a wall in his family living room as their ‘wall of fame’.
“Our sitting room houses the wall of fame, and we have pictures and framed medals from our family’s service from both sides, and it makes us very proud indeed,” said Joseph.
“We never let these memories die, and they live on through us, our two sons and our grandchildren.”
Joseph has been playing the Veterans’ Lottery for just under a year after signing up at a service station, and was shocked when he found out he’d won the £7,000 first prize.
“My wife read the email and said it must be a scam, as we’re never that lucky,” Joseph continued.
“I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat when it dawned on us that we’d really won, and it honestly couldn’t have come at a better time for us.
“We are in the process of upgrading our bathroom to make it more accessible for my wife, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis.
“We were shocked when we found out how much this was going to cost, but this win makes this work possible for us, and we are very thankful.”
Joseph believes that we should all do what we can to support those who have served.
“I think back to when I signed up at that service station, and I was discussing the stories of veterans, and I thought to give £10 per month to a cause that’s doing so much is nothing in the grand scheme of things,” he said.
“I spend more than this on coffee, cakes and sausage rolls in my local café.
“It makes me feel good that I’m doing my bit and giving something back to those who served and their families.”
The Veterans’ Lottery is now the UK’s largest single-cause lottery and is a key funding stream for the Foundation’s grant programme.
If you’d like to be in with a chance to win up to £75,000 you can sign up to play the Veterans’ Lottery today.
