A children’s home housekeeper who lost his wife to Covid last year has scooped a huge £16,000 prize thanks to competitions company BOTB.
Darren Palmer from Stockton-on-Tees won an electric mountain bike worth more than £6,000 alongside £10,000 in cash in the online competition.
A delighted Darren said: “I’ve never won anything in my life.
“I can’t believe it. I’ve only been playing a few weeks.”
Darren was at work when BOTB’s Sean Hall video-called to give him the good news.
He said. “I lost my wife to Covid last year and it’s been a rough time since then.
"I’m sure she’s looking down on me and had something to do with this bit of good luck for me.”
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Darren, 55, who paid just 55p for his ticket to enter the competition, said the £10,000 cash would go towards paying off some debts.
“I lost the house when my wife died and so I have some debts to pay, this money will help out with all of that and get us back on our feet,” he explained.
“I’d also love to go to Florida with my friend who also lost his wife.
“And, of course, I’ll help the kids out with whatever they need.
"My daughter needs driving lessons and my son has just bought a house so I’ll help them out with that.”
Darren has three children and three grandchildren.
The bike he won was the Greyp G6.2 electric mountain bike which comes with various technologies including a built-in anti-theft system plus front and rear HD cameras.
BOTB offers a dream car to competition entrants each week as well as the Midweek Lifestyle prize, where other winners have bagged a quad bike, holidays and £25,000 in cash.
The company was founded by William Hindmarch in 1999 and has given away more than £48m-worth of cars so far.
BOTB’s Sean said: “It sounds like Darren has had a really tough time recently so I was delighted to give him some good news.
"He’s played for a fantastic prize and I’m super excited for him.”
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