Dukinfield mum's lottery win means new life for disabled daughter

An emotional mum is planning to buy a new home to transform the life of her severely disabled daughter after winning on the People's Postcode Lottery.

Nichola Galley, 43, has been searching on Rightmove for four years after council bosses refused planning permission to adapt the family home for Ava, 13. 

The miracle teen has defied all odds after being born with a genetic condition so rare it doesn’t have a name. It means Ava is non-verbal, unable to walk without help and has to be tube fed. 

Now supermarket café worker Nichola says her £55,555 Millionaire Street win will help the family move from their unsuitable semi in Dukinfield.

THAT’S MY GIRL: Nichola with precious daughter, Ava

Nichola said: “Ava’s condition is so rare it doesn’t have a name. Most pregnancies either miscarry or are stillborn and doctors didn’t expect her to still be with us at this age. She likes to keep us all on our toes! 

“We’ll use this to move into a home that’s more suitable for Ava’s needs. I’ve been on Rightmove every day for the last four years. 

“I want to give Ava her own bedroom with a dressing table, just like every 13-year-old girl wants.” 

She added: “This has given us a bit of hope and a little bit of happiness, it feels like it’s within our reach now. I feel a bit lighter.” 

Nichola and creative director husband Paul, 47, had to turn part of their downstairs dining room into a bedroom for Ava as she got older. 

LITTLE MIRACLE: Ava has survived against the odds

Nichola said: “Ava is getting older and bigger so we need a downstairs bedroom and a wet room and open plan living so she can move around safely.  

“Hopefully it won’t come to it but we might need hoists to lift her and everything that comes with that, too.  

“We don’t actually want to move. We did apply for planning permission to have a downstairs wet room bathroom for Ava, but it was denied.  

“We’ve had to move Ava into the dining room, so it’s a half dining room, half bedroom.” 

Nichola celebrated her good fortune with 16 other neighbours after their postcode – SK16 5AZ – was announced as the winner last Saturday (24 June). Each ticket bagged £55,555, but one player doubled their winnings with two. 

Nichola, who gave up her career in design 13 years ago to become Ava’s full-time carer, is also mum to 15-year-old James. 

She said: “James has just finished his exams and he’s done so well. I’m so proud of him. I think he deserves some driving lessons when the time comes.  

“I’m still in shock, I can’t believe we’ve won that amount of money. It’s going to be so useful that it’s hard not to get emotional.”

ON THE HOUSE: Nichola will use win for home move

She added: “A little trip to Spain would be nice – I’ve been practicing my Spanish for a few years. Whether or not we can go as a family is yet to be seen – it might just be a girl’s trip!” 

Neighbour Pam Lowe, 67, scooped £111,110 thanks to playing with two tickets. 

Horse lover Pam says she’ll treat her sister Christine, 62, to a Wild West trip with the windfall. 

DOUBLE MONEY: Retired Pam’s two tickets bagged her £111,110

The retired library assistant said: “I’d love to go to America, see the Grand Canyon and stay on a ranch.  

“I’ve four horses, too – Princess, Mable, Georgie Girl and Meg – they’ll get a treat.  

“My daughter Jennifer is already putting her order in for what to spend it on, too.” 

Intensive care nurse Sarah Penkett said the win helps wipe away the strain of the pandemic. 

The mum-of-two picked up a £55,555 cheque after getting cover for her shift. 

ANGEL’S SHARE: Nurse Sarah delighted after picking up her bumper cheque

Sarah, 35, said: “The last couple of years has been pretty heavy going, so this is nice.”

Michael Humphreys, 61, is planning a ruby wedding anniversary to remember with wife Barbara, 60. 

The pair say they’ll do America’s iconic Route 66 to celebrate 40 years of marriage in October. 

Michael, a retired underwriter, said: “We’ve talked about doing Route 66 for a while but put it off because it’s a lot of money… but now we’ve got a lot of money! 

“I think we’ll do it in a big fancy American convertible. This has paid for it.” 

Retired supermarket bakery worker Barbara wants to make a dent in the £55,555 with two designer handbags. 

She said: “We can stop off at the shopping malls on the way and I can get two Michael Kors handbags now – one for shopping and one for show.” 

Maternity support worker Emma Norton was visibly shaking when she found out she’d landed a five-figure sum. 

Now she says she’ll celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary to water board worker husband Michael, 42, in style. 

Emma, 39, said: “I’m gobsmacked – I don’t even win the tombola at the kids’ school fayre. 

“We’re going to the Dominican Republic, so we’ll be able to splash out. I might even get my own speedboat. It’s a dream come true.” 

STREET’S AHEAD: Delighted neighbours in SK16 5AZ celebrate their windfalls

Manchester United fan Paul Holden kissed his £55,555 cheque after pulling it from the gold envelope. 

He previously won over £2,000 when Dukinfield scooped £3 million in the monthly Millions prize five years ago. 

The electrical contracts engineer said: “This is a thing of beauty, fantastic. I’m just gobsmacked.” 

The keen golfer has already booked a holiday to Benidorm with wife Julie, 61 – but hopes to splash out on another trip to Italy. 

The dad-of-two said: “I’ve always wanted to go to Rome to try the Italian food and wine, and now the Postcode Lottery has given me that opportunity.” 

But Paul and carer Julie revealed eldest daughter Charlotte, 33, missed out after ditching the winning postcode when she moved to another area and signed up there. 

Grandmother Julie said: “Charlotte came out of this postcode when she moved. If she’d kept it, she would be a winner too. 

“But she’s happy for us. She said ‘it’s just my luck’.”

Postcode Lottery ambassadors Danyl Johnson and Matt Johnson brought joy to the street. 

Matt said: “We had a delightful day in Dukinfield, sharing the Millionaire Street love with an incredible 17 winners. 

“It's incredibly special to see neighbours winning together. But local charities in Dukinfield also have something to celebrate, thanks to People’s Postcode Lottery players. 

“They have raised more than £1.1 billion for charities and thousands of local good causes. Neighbours win and charities win. It’s the ultimate win-win situation!” 

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