Omaze Millionaire Winner Discovered Life-Changing News After Funeral
Omaze faced significant challenges contacting a fortunate winner of their £1 million Monthly Millionaire Draw due to outdated contact details and a period of digital disconnection during a funeral. Steph Churchill, a 36-year-old originally from Bolton now residing in Hampshire, nearly overlooked the pivotal emails that would transform her financial future.
A Sombre Journey Interrupted by Extraordinary News
While traveling back from a funeral service, Steph remained completely offline, missing the initial flurry of communications from the Omaze team. The organization struggled to reach her as she had provided an old address, left no telephone number, and had her message notifications disabled during the solemn occasion.
"I'd been travelling back from a funeral, so I was totally offline, and I missed all the emails," Steph explained. "When I finally checked my inbox and saw emails from Omaze sat there, I just ignored them at first as I never imagined I'd actually won something."
Curiosity eventually prevailed, prompting Steph to open one message and respond. The Omaze team then revealed they needed to visit her home to disclose her prize, but encountered another obstacle—Steph had recently relocated without updating her address information.
Car Park Celebrations and Immediate Reality Checks
Upon learning she had become an instant millionaire, Steph's reaction was visceral. "I just screamed and gave my husband a big kiss and massive hug," she recalled. "If I hadn't grabbed hold of him, I honestly think I'd have collapsed with shock."
The celebration commenced unconventionally in a cricket club car park, where Steph and her husband Rob toasted their fortune with champagne consumed directly from the bottle, as no glasses were provided. "I felt like a teenager on a park bench but couldn't care less," she admitted, while Rob, who was driving, opted for sparkling water.
Despite the life-altering news, normal responsibilities quickly resumed. "The dogs do not care that you are a millionaire, they still need feeding and a walk," Steph noted, describing how they immediately returned to walking their two rescue dogs through muddy fields.
Grounded Responses to Extraordinary Circumstances
Both Steph and Rob work as Sales Managers in the automotive industry, having met six years ago during a business trip to Portugal. Demonstrating their practical nature, Rob awoke at his usual 7am the following morning and proceeded to work as normal.
"This win is obviously transformational, but it won't change who we are as people," Steph emphasized. "We'll both keep working as we love our jobs, but all the pressure is off and we can just focus on enjoying life and helping our friends and family."
The couple shares their home with Steph's brother Mike, two rescue dogs—Stephen, a small terrier mix rescued from Greek streets during a hen party, and Twinkle Toes, a substantial Romanian Mioritic Shepherd saved from a pound—along with their cat Ruby.
Future Plans and Philanthropic Intentions
Their immediate plans include clearing their mortgage, booking a ski trip to France, and contemplating more extensive travels to Japan and Australia. Additional priorities involve expanding their family, rescuing more dogs, and installing a hot tub in their garden.
"This win is not just going to change our lives, it is going to change the lives of the people around us too," Steph revealed. "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."
Steph entered the draw through an Omaze subscription, having recently rejoined after a five-year hiatus from participating. The Omaze Monthly Millionaire Draw guarantees one UK winner receives £1 million tax-free each month.
Matt Pohlson, CEO and Founder of Omaze, expressed his delight: "We're absolutely delighted for Steph and Rob. Ski trips, dream holidays, rescuing more dogs and helping the people they love—it's fantastic to see so many brilliant plans already taking shape."
Pohlson further highlighted the charitable dimension of Omaze's operations, noting that the platform has raised over £100 million for various UK causes through participant generosity.
