A FAMILY has scooped a £200,000 lottery prize just weeks after suffering a heartbreaking tragedy.
Tracy Mellor, 54, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, said her huge win is thanks to her late dad “shining down” on her – just a day after she cancelled his Postcode Lottery ticket.
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The mum was handed a cheque for £100,000 on Saturday alongside nine other winners in the People’s Postcode Lottery.
That includes her son, Joe Mellor, 31, who also won a share of the £1million prize pot.
Joe, who is currently travelling, found out over a FaceTime call that he had bagged the “lifechanging” £100,000.
But the win is particularly special for Tracy, who credits the stunning scoop to her late dad.
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“That’s me dad that,” she told Manchester Evening News after catching a glimpse of her winning cheque. “He died two weeks ago. My dad’s done this for me.
“It’s bittersweet but my dad is shining down on me.”
Dad-of-six Peter Kemp, who died at the age of 75, had played the Postcode Lottery for years before Tracy followed suit and started playing herself.
And just a day after cancelling his direct debits, Tracy received her life-changing win.
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Her sister, Adele, said: “It’s mad because she cancelled our dad’s ticket the day before and then she got a phone call.
“It’s like dad’s looking down on Tracy.”
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Adele said their dad, who was a keen poker player, has passed on his “golden luck”.
As for Tracy’s son, Joe, he was in Malta when he received the “unbelievable” news.
He said he “couldn’t believe it” and was left “shaking” at the announcement.
“It’s even more special to win it with my mum,” he added. “She’s had such a tough time recently and she deserves this more than anyone.”
Joe’s dad, Neil, said winning £100k at his age is “absolutely brilliant”.
Joe remains out of the country but will return for his grandad’s funeral, after which the family will be able to celebrate their win together.
The window fitter, who lives at home with his parents, is already looking ahead to the future after his big win.
“I can get on the property ladder,” he said. “And if I have kids one day, it means I have that security behind me.”
In the meantime, however, another holiday to Asia is being lined up, although he admits the prize money doesn’t mean an early retirement.
“I’ll soon be back to normality and back to work, but this money might change a lot of things,” he said.
As for Joe’s parents, they also have getaway plans of their own.
Tracy said: “He’s going to Ayia Napa with the lads in June, and us girls will go to Benidorm.
“My sister wants to go on a cruise, and I’m sure Neil and I will go on holiday together. I’ve always fancied Greece but never got there but we can do it now.”
Neil, who works in sales, said the couple won’t be retiring just yet, either.
“It’ll definitely take the pressure off our jobs,” he said. “(But) we’re not going to retire.”
Tracy added: “I’ll still work, I love my job. We’ll put some of it away for a rainy day.”
Celebrations have already gotten underway, though, with the couple having planned an exciting bank holiday weekend.
Tracy said: “The prosecco is going to pop in a minute. I don’t care what time it is, it’s popping. Then we’re going for lunch and out for tea. I’m not cooking today.”
Tracy and Joe were among ten winners on Greenhythe Road to win the lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize.
Each ticket was worth £100,000.
The family’s victory comes just days after an entire neighbourhood scooped a £3.2m lotto prize.
Hundreds of contestants in nearby Altrincham’s WA15 9 postcode are now set to walk away with at least £5,000 each.
And a retired NHS worker told how she suffered from a scary sign before winning the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Meg Carr, 69, won £12,000-a-month for a year after struggling with heart palpitations.
How does People’s Postcode Lottery work?
THERE is potential for players to win some big cash prizes with People’s Postcode Lottery – but how does it work?
People’s Postcode Lottery is an ongoing monthly subscription lottery where paid tickets are automatically entered into all of its prize draws.
Players can purchase up to three tickets to play in its draws, with each ticket based on their chosen postcode. It costs £12 per month to play.
Prizes are announced every single day – and 33 per cent of the ticket price goes to good causes.
Prizes include £1million shared in one winning postcode every Saturday, £30,000 for every winning ticket in one postcode every Sunday, and a multi-million-pound prize is shared in one postcode area each month.
This month, Meg won “An Unforgettable Year”, claiming £12,000 each month for a year. She can also choose from a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences – in Britain or abroad.
The prize was promoted on behalf of the Postcode Support Trust which supports organisations including Missing People, Depaul UK and Royal Voluntary Service.
