Eastbourne hospital worker wins £25,000 jackpot

Debbie Soave, from Willingdon, joined the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance lottery when a canvasser called at her home last year.

She thought nothing more of her £8-a-month subscription until she received a call telling her she had won the top prize in the draw, with random lucky numbers 1, 5, 29 and 34.

The mother-of-three is now planning a trip to the Big Apple to celebrate her daughter’s 21st birthday in March.

She said, “I’ve never won anything before and it couldn’t have come at a better time. We’ve been saying how nice it would be to take my daughter to New York for a few days, and now we can.

“I’ve only been a member of the air ambulance lottery since June and I just saw it as a donation. It’s a lovely sum of money to win and it will allow us to do many things with it. We might even go on a skiing trip as well.”

Debbie, who works as neurophysiotherapist at EDGH, has also donated some of her winnings back to the air ambulance.

She said, “I believe very strongly in local charities because a lot of people don’t realise how important they are for the services they provide.

“The EDGH Rehabilitation Gym I work in was built and equipped by our fantastic League of Friends so I am reminded on a daily basis about the vital role that they and other charities, such as St Wilfrid’s Hospice and the air ambulance, play in supporting the NHS.”

Debbie is the air ambulance’s first £25,000 winner this year and the second recent superdraw winner from Eastbourne after another lottery member won £11,025 last September.

The charity’s regular lottery costs £1 per week and there are 12 winners drawn each week with prizes ranging from £25 to £1,000.

For an extra £1 a week, players can join the superdraw which has a maximum jackpot of £25,000. To join the lottery go to www.kssairambulance.org.uk/lottery or call 01622 833833.

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