Funeral Attendance Nearly Costs Woman £1 Million Prize Discovery
A thirty-six-year-old woman who secured a life-changing £1 million prize in the Omaze monthly Millionaire Draw almost missed her monumental win entirely because she was attending a funeral. Steph Churchill, from Hampshire, proved exceptionally challenging for Omaze officials to locate after her victory, as she had not supplied a telephone number during her entry and had only recently changed her residential address.
Communication Challenges and Emotional Discovery
Omaze representatives were compelled to dispatch multiple email notifications to inform Mrs Churchill of her extraordinary fortune. However, in a further dramatic development, she was slow to respond to these messages because she was occupied with funeral arrangements and travelling back from the service. Mrs Churchill finally accessed her inbox during the journey home, where she made the astonishing realisation that she had become an instant millionaire.
Mrs Churchill recounted: 'I had been travelling back from a funeral, so I was completely offline and missed all the emails. When I eventually checked my inbox and saw messages from Omaze, I initially ignored them, as I never imagined I might actually win something. Then curiosity overwhelmed me, and I opened one email and replied.'
The Omaze team informed her she had won a prize and intended to visit her home to disclose the details. A complication arose because Mrs Churchill had relocated and not updated her address, forcing the team to rush from her former residence to deliver the news, fortunately only half an hour away.
Shock, Celebration, and Future Plans
Upon learning the thrilling news, Mrs Churchill said she nearly collapsed from shock and had to grasp her husband, Rob Churchill, who then gave her a 'big kiss and massive hug'. The couple commenced their celebrations uniquely by enjoying champagne directly from the bottle in a car park, as no glasses were provided.
Mrs Churchill continued: 'They had given us a bottle of fizz but no glasses, but that was not going to stop me celebrating, so I just drank it straight from the bottle. I felt like a teenager on a park bench but could not care less! Rob was driving so he stuck to fizzy water.'
The couple spent time contacting friends to make the situation feel more real, with many initially believing it was an early April Fools' joke. Remarkably, Mr Churchill maintained his normal routine, rising at 7 a.m. and heading to work the day after the discovery, demonstrating their grounded approach.
Transformational Impact and Generous Intentions
Mrs Churchill emphasised that while the win is transformational, it will not alter their core identities. Both plan to continue working due to loving their jobs, but the financial pressure is now eliminated, allowing them to focus on enjoying life and assisting friends and family.
She explained: 'We can clear our mortgage, travel the world, and accomplish all the things we have always discussed. It feels like I can relive my twenties, but this time with an unbelievable budget.'
Originally from Bolton but now residing in Hampshire, the couple have already booked a ski trip to France, with larger adventures to Japan and Australia firmly planned. They also intend to rescue more dogs, explore starting a family, and top their shopping list with a hot tub for their garden.
Mrs Churchill added: 'We have always talked about renovating the garden, and now we can do that comfortably and will definitely be adding a hot tub as we can afford the extravagance now! This win is not just going to change our lives; it is going to change the lives of the people around us too. We will be able to support our friends and family in a way we never could before, and that is one of the best feelings of all.'
Omaze's Broader Impact and Additional Winners
Matt Pohlson, CEO and Founder of Omaze, expressed delight for Steph and Rob, noting their plans for ski trips, dream holidays, dog rescues, and helping loved ones. Omaze offers opportunities to win life-changing prizes while raising substantial funds for charitable causes, having generated over £100 million for UK good causes.
Beyond the monthly millionaire draw, other fortunate winners have secured multi-million-pound homes, such as Simon Mawdsley, 41, who recently won a £4 million Cornish house. Mr Mawdsley, who entered for over two years with a £15 ticket, received the property with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, plus £160,000 in furnishings and £250,000 in cash. He plans to enjoy a significant family holiday and convert the dining table into a snooker area, though his wife may require persuasion regarding this 'mini Crucible'.
