Summer's On Us For Darlington

A BIG-HEARTED foster carer who says family is her world is celebrating a £150,000 People's Postcode Lottery win - and now wants a home extension for her big brood.

Nadene is planning to cancel her back-garden makeover scheduled for June and says she'll get an extension instead to accommodate her clan.

Nadene, of Darlington, County Durham, said, "I'm due to get the back garden done at the end of June and I'll now be ringing up and saying I don't want it doing because I'm having an extension instead!

"We've always got a house full of people, so it'll just give us that extra space that we need."

Nadene won alongside four neighbours when DL1 3TL was announced as the winner of our Summer's on Us prize.

Every ticket was worth £150,000, meaning three-quarters of a million pounds went to the lucky players in the Darlington cul-de-sac.

Nadene and hubby Paul - an HGV technician - were fresh from celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary at a plush spa in nearby Durham when she was presented with her win.

Nadene said, "Oh my God, I'm shaking. I still don't feel like it's real, but I've already started spending the money in my head. My legs are like jelly.

"I can get my extension now. And there'll definitely be a holiday coming out of it.

"We wanted to do the extension as soon as we moved in two years ago, but we had to do a lot of other work instead.

"I'd like to do a full two-storey extension out the back. We'll get a bigger dining room and kitchen, shower room downstairs and an extra bedroom upstairs."

She added, "When I got the phone call, I didn't think it was real. I didn't expect anyone to turn up.

"We went to Seaham Hall to the spa and stayed overnight, we came home this morning and then this. I can't believe it."

Nadene, who has two grown-up children and two grandchildren, has been a foster carer for nearly 17 years.

And during that time the loving grandmother says she has cared for more than 40 kids on both a long- and short-term basis.

She said, "I have just always loved children and loved having children in the house.

"We had two of our own and our family was complete. I think it's just about giving these children a better life, giving them a better start in life and helping them where you can.

"Family is our world. We'll be spoiling everybody. I can't wait."

Nadene is also planning to jet off to the Canary Islands with daughter Emily, son Ross, and her two granddaughters, Lily and Rosie.

Nadene said, "It's just what we enjoy doing, what we love to do. It's just one of those things that you only do now and again, so I can't wait to book a holiday for us all together.

"It'll be chaotic, but I just love it. It's going to be amazing."

Charities Win Too

Today's prize is part of a draw promoted on behalf of Postcode Children Trust. Supported by our players, this trust provides grant funding to organisations that inspire and support children and young people to make the most of their lives and opportunities within their communities. Benefiting charities include Young Lives vs Cancer, Magic Breakfast and Whizz-Kidz.

With People's Postcode Lottery, 33% of the ticket price goes to amazing charities and good causes around the world. Our players have raised more than £1.3 Billion so far.

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