A woman who won £1 million in an Omaze draw almost missed the life-changing news because she was at a funeral and had turned off her phone. Steph Churchill, 36, originally from Bolton but now living in Hampshire, had given the company an old address and left no phone number, meaning they struggled to contact her.
When she finally checked her emails after the funeral, she initially ignored messages from Omaze, assuming she hadn't won anything. Curiosity got the better of her, and she replied, leading to a visit from the Omaze team who had to dash from her old address to her new home half an hour away to deliver the news.
Steph celebrated by drinking champagne straight from the bottle in a cricket club car park, as no glasses were available. She said: 'I just screamed and gave my husband a big kiss and massive hug. If I hadn't grabbed hold of him, I honestly think I'd have collapsed with shock.'
The couple, both sales managers in the motoring industry, have two rescue dogs and a cat. Despite the win, Rob went to work as normal the next day. Steph said: 'This win is obviously transformational, but it won't change who we are as people.'
Plans for the money include clearing their mortgage, booking a ski trip to France, and potentially travelling to Japan and Australia. They also intend to rescue more dogs and add a hot tub to their garden. Steph added: 'We will be able to support our friends and family in a way we never could before.'
