"Magic does happen," says a man who won £133,000 in the Euromillions lottery after surviving an aggressive cancer.
Jonathan Aldridge was just 17 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, a rare form of cancer which saw him facing gruelling chemotherapy and months of treatment.
Now, the 32-year-old has changed his luck by taking home £133,000 in the National Lottery competition – and he already has plans for how he will use the money.
Jonathan, from Crawley, said: “When I was six, as an April Fools' prank, my parents said we’d won the National Lottery, all four of my brothers were cheering and I burst into tears as I didn’t want to move house, and the banter has continued since then!
“So, when I received a message about the win but couldn’t see a change in my funds on the National Lottery app I was suspicious to say the least.
Jonathan Aldridge has won £133,000 in the Euromillions lottery (Image: National Lottery)
“I will never take for granted how lucky I was to beat cancer. I watched as other young sufferers, including my best friend, were not as lucky. So, in a way, I feel that living the very best life I can and making the most of this opportunity is in their honour too.
“I’m going to invest it wisely to build a bigger deposit for a home, and hopefully travel some more, all things that when I was lying in my hospital bed, I didn’t think would ever be possible.
“I shared the news of my win because hopefully it will show other people who may be going through a tough time that there is hope, and that magic does happen.”
Accountant Jonathan said that his four brothers and parents reacted “with colourful language and laughter” after finding out he had won the Euromillions prize at 7.30am on June 18.
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It comes after a tough time in the past few years as Jonathan’s father faced a triple heart bypass, two heart attacks and a two-month coma where he lost both of his legs.
Jonathan added: “My family’s support has been central to my recovery so now, thanks to my sudden EuroMillions luck, I can repay that support.
“We are all very close, when I lost my hair due to the chemotherapy my four brothers all shaved their heads in solidarity, so now I’ll show my solidarity to them with a slap-up meal out to celebrate.
“I really hope that this amazing moment of luck heralds the start of a lucky phase not just for me, but for the whole family.”
Read More: Postcode Lottery: West Sussex street wins £1 million jackpot
A keen West Ham United supporter, Jonathan says he intends to use the money to spend more time following the team and treating his nearest and dearest.
He also plans to make a big donation to Young Lives Versus Cancer who helped to support him while he spent six months being treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital in 2009.
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