Burton-on-Trent Millionaire Street

TWO pals who made a pact to play People's Postcode Lottery 10 years ago have each won £100,000 and plan to fulfil a promise to go on a dream holiday to Barbados together.

Karen McElroy and Jane Elson believed they'd win our lottery when they signed up nearly a decade ago, but with every passing year they started to doubt it would ever happen.

Now the best friends and neighbours' belief has paid off after they each banked a share of a £1 million prize.

Karen, of Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, said: "I've been doing Postcode Lottery for years with my friend Jane, and we always said we're going to win it one day. And here we are today! I'm just completely shocked and can't believe it.

"We did say Barbados; that was the goal, and we will go to Barbados."

Jane added: "It's a bit surreal. I feel I'm in a dream at the moment, and that I'm going to wake up in the morning, and I won't have won anything.

"I've played it for about 10 years. Karen and I decided to do it together, and we did say that if we ever won, we'll go to Barbados.

"And I never thought that was going to happen, so I guess we're going to Barbados."

Karen and Jane are among 10 winners in Burton after their postcode, DE15 0DX, was announced as the winner of our Millionaire Street prize today. Each ticket was worth £100,000.

The flush friends, who were standing side-by-side when they received the incredible news, told us how this win will hopefully spark a change in their fortunes.

Karen was diagnosed with womb cancer three years ago and battled back to full health, only to find that the disease had returned last year.

She said: "This means a lot. I've had a couple of cancer diagnoses in the last three years. I was diagnosed with womb cancer in June 2022, and then I had a full hysterectomy and some radiotherapy, and then everything sort of got back to normal.

"And then last June, I found another lump in my groin, so that's called a recurrence. And I had to have surgery to have that removed and the whole thing that goes with that.

"I've just had my last chemotherapy on the 28th of February. That's why I don't have any eyebrows or eyelashes."

Karen is awaiting more test results next week following her treatment but admitted she's hopeful for the future.

She added: "Things have got a lot better recently, but it's always at the back of your mind, and it's been a bit of a tough journey through the treatment and everything.

"So, getting this today ahead of my results next week is just massive."

Karen wanted to use some of her good fortune to help Queen's Hospital Burton and thank the doctors, nurses, and staff, who cared for her.

She said: "I think I'm also going to give a donation to the hospital where they've been treating me over the last few years as well."

Karen spoke of her delight that close chum Jane won alongside her.

The pair have been friends and neighbours for over 20 years and spend lots of time together walking their dogs and practising yoga.

She said: "I'm so happy for Jane, especially as she's had a tough time recently as well.

"We're going to have such a fun time this year after both of us having a really tough time over the last few years.

"So, winning it together like we said we would is going to really pay off and has come at the best time really."

Mum-of-two Karen worked as a PR and communications freelancer but had to give up her business as her cancer treatment intensified.

She said: "I'm no longer running my own business. This is the first year that I haven't had my own income. I was just at the stage where I'm thinking, 'What should I do next?'

"I might have a little bit longer off now. It's really come at a good time and given me a big boost."

Karen's son Aidan cheered as she collected her £100k prize, but her paramedic daughter Niamh was on duty, and her husband Aidan was turfing at a building site more than 100 miles away. Both were on tenterhooks waiting for a phone call.

She said: "I've just called my husband, and he's just in shock because he's out labouring on a site at the moment, and he can't believe it.

"I'm going to give some of this to my son and daughter, and then we'll save some for ourselves."

Jane, who works as a dog walker, mentioned her disbelief after getting a call from us the day before she received her prize.

She said: "It was an amazing experience that I thought would never happen ever. Yesterday, I had a telephone call saying I'd won, and I didn't believe it. And this morning, I thought the postman had turned up."

Karen chipped in: "I was in bed and heard a knock at the door. I opened it thinking it was a cold caller and I was ready to say, 'Thank you for waking me up, I don't want your services', but it was someone from Postcode Lottery.

"I really didn't think it was true; I had to be convinced. I think when he said there's a film crew up the road, I said, 'Okay, I believe you now'."

Jane already has her first purchase in mind: a new car, but it needs to be big enough to fit her nine-year-old Doberman, Kaiser.

She also revealed that the win would help boost her retirement fund and that she'd treat her son Tom with her winnings.

She said: "I'm definitely going to buy a car with a share of it. I have no idea what I'll get as I've just decided to get one today. It'll be something nice."

Along the street, Kym Ellis was the first person to be presented with her prize.

Kym, who had just left for work in her car, spotted our camera crew, hit the brakes and asked: "Have I won?"

Kym, who works in social care, reacted: "I'm amazed. Absolutely blown away."

Kym started playing Postcode Lottery with her wife Andrea and now they're planning an epic road trip to Italy. And they'll take their Miniature Schnauzer, Holly, who turned three on 1 April.

She said: "I signed us up as part of our joint bank account and thought, 'That looks a good idea, I'll do that'. It's paid off very nicely."

She added: "I will be the spender; Andrea will say the money should go into savings.

"But definitely, I think there'll be a very nice holiday on the cards. We drove to Italy a few years ago with our previous dog, and we'd love to do that again."

Another neighbour, mum-of-two Natalie Mellor, hailed her win as life-changing.

She said: "It was such a shock, I didn't expect that amount at all. It's going to make such a massive difference - it's just amazing."

Natalie said her winnings will go a long way to helping her son and daughter.

She said: "My daughter is at uni in her first year, and this will help with accommodation costs and study costs. My son is 17 and has just started learning to drive, so he'll be helped massively with that."

Now Natalie and her husband Paul Mellor are pondering a holiday after putting one off in recent years.

She said: "We can just live a bit more, we can go on holiday, we can upgrade my car that needs upgrading.

"It'll be all-inclusive, two weeks, in a really hot country. We love Greece, so it'll be one of the Greek Islands."

Others on the street cheering cheques were Lesley Brooksby and Bruce Barlow.

And the neighbours' win means several charities in and around Burton-on-Trent will benefit from vital funding.

One organisation, Burton Albion Community Trust, has received £50,000 from Postcode Community Trust, which is supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

They offer a variety of sporting, health and wellbeing, employability and alternative education programmes designed to inspire, engage, and educate.

On average, they engage with more than 7,000 people per week, with ages ranging from four years to 80-plus.

John Widdowson, Head of Community, said: "We're extremely grateful to everyone who plays and to Postcode Community Trust. The funding is going to go a long way toward helping us with the work that we do in the communities across East Staffordshire."

Other local charities who have benefitted from this week's Millionaire Street prize include:

• Sexual Abuse & Rape Advice Centre (Burton & District) - £50,000. SARAC covers the East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire area, supporting people affected through free confidential services and counselling assistance.

• Harvey Girls - £25,000. Offering support to young parents in East Staffordshire, aimed at those with children under five. They have a variety of activities with a focus on developing the relationship between the parent and child.

All funding was awarded by Postcode Community Trust.

Thousands Of Supported Projects

Today's prize is part of a draw promoted on behalf of Postcode Education Trust. Supported by our players, this trust delivers grant funding to organisations that provide education, particularly in emergency situations. Benefitting charities include Save the Children, Theirworld and UNICEF UK.

With a minimum of 30% of each ticket price going to Charities, our players have now raised more than £1.5 billion for good causes across Great Britain and internationally. People's Postcode Lottery players have funded thousands of deserving projects protecting people and the planet.

Have you signed up to play yet? Take a look at all the amazing Prizes our players can win. If you aren't sure how to join the fun, find out How It Works. It's really easy to sign up and play. With your help, we can support Charities which make a difference in people's lives every day.