They Came Back to Give Back: Lotto-Winning Couple’s Big Gesture

A Devon, Paignton, UK, couple who won GBP3.9 million ($5.2 million) in the National Lottery have returned to a hospital that holds a special place in their heart. The two particularly lucky spouses helped create a more welcoming dementia ward and even donated a piano for patients and staff to use. Moving Deed with Deep Meaning Jon and Lucy Waring counted among eight South West lottery winners who took part in a volunteering day at Torbay Hospital near Torquay. The couple won their fortune more than 14 months ago, in May 2025. For 48-year-old Lucy, the visit meant more than giving back after their life-changing win, as she spent 27 years working as a nurse and spent the final years of her career on Cheetham Hill, the dementia unit where the new artwork will be displayed. “The dementia unit will always hold such a special place in my heart,” Lucy explained. “These patients and the incredible staff who care for them deserve everything.” “We are so proud to be part of this,” she added. For Lucy, returning to the hospital offered a chance to reconnect with a place where she had spent a large part of her working life. “We Hope It Brings Many Smiles” Jon, a 58-year-old former police radio operator who was also no stranger to dementia sufferers in the community whom he used to frequently engage with, said that returning to the hospital meant “the world” for them. “Lucy gave so much of herself to this hospital and to these patients over the years,” he added. “Being able to come back and leave something permanent, artwork that will bring comfort and familiarity to people living with dementia is just wonderful,” Jon further said. “We hope it brings many smiles.” They Bought a New House and a Harley-Davidson The visit came after the couple’s dramatic change in fortunes. Following their massive win, Jon said they were looking forward to slowing down, enjoying life, and trying experiences they had previously only dreamed about. Jon discovered he had won the lottery on May 31 in 2025 when he checked his phone after waking up. Ever since, the two have indulged in a hot tub, a brand-new Audi Q7, and a Harley-Davidson trike. They also left their old two-bedroom bungalow and moved into a house with a pool and seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms. They also have a sauna, a bar, a tennis court, and a generous piece of land of 3.7 acres. They were also generous with their friends and family, giving away GBP430,000 ($580,000) and decided to invest the rest of roughly GBP1.5 million ($2 million) to enjoy an income for the rest of their lives. Joined by Seven Other Winners The two were also joined by Cornwall’s Taryn and Grants Hawkes, the winners of a GBP1 million ($1.3 million) Lotto prize, Wiltshire’s Ruth and Peter Doyle and Natalie and Andrew Symes from South Gloucestershire, who also took home the same amount on the EuroMillions, and Jenn Burston from Devon, who grabbed thrice as much on the Lotto. Since the start of the year, more than Lotto 100 players have turned into millionaires. Stephen Heath, Care Group Director of Nursing at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said the hospital was delighted to have been chosen by the winners. He said the artwork would help enhance the ward and create a warm and welcoming space where patients and staff could eat, play games or listen to music.