Sharon and Nigel Mather were just on-and-off EuroMillions players when they hit the jackpot.
The Sale couple won a life-changing 12.4 million births of the couple’s second son in 2010.
They picked up the ticket while on vacation and only found out after they returned that they had won.
Sharon checked the number on the television while Nigel drove to Tesco to do some grocery shopping. It was a godsend that secured her winnings and not the numbers Sharon usually picked for the lottery draw.
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“Something doesn’t have to be right,” remembers Sharon.
“It just doesn’t happen to normal people like us. I called my husband and told him to come home quickly and he thought something had happened to the children or to my father.
“But I said, ‘No, I think we just won the EuroMillions.'”
When she looked back, she was suffocated and added, “It’s actually pretty emotional when you think about it.”
England were playing in the World Cup at the time of their victory, making the Three Lions’ success at this summer’s European Championship a timely reminder of how their lives have changed for the better.
Since Nigel had to go to the pub to see the game, Sharon forced him to stay home as she processed the shock of victory.
“It was surreal,” she told the Manchester Evening News. “It was like coming out of your body and looking down.”
The supportive Man City couple from Sale say they went public with their winnings so they wouldn’t have to lie to loved ones who they wanted to help
(Image: Jon Parker Lee)
The couple’s celebration ended up being pretty humble as they ordered a Chinese takeout meal – which they didn’t eat – and shared three Magners as this was in the house.
Deciding what her first purchase would be was a breeze – a bungalow for Sharon’s father.
A year after their victory, they moved to BowdOn – the house they still live in today – and opted for a holiday home in Abersoch, North Wales.
After Sharon and Nigel initially refused to go public, they soon changed their minds when they realized that it would make it difficult to help family and friends and they saw that they had to lie about their sudden stroke of luck.
“It wasn’t about showing off,” said Sharon. “It was about helping the people around us and not lying.”
And when it came to giving away some of their profits to family and friends, it turned into a major operation – one that Sharon says was reminiscent of the “Secret Millionaire.”
“My husband used to be a hotel manager and he made a spreadsheet and went to about 30 friends and family houses and it was almost like Secret Millionaire.
“We have always said that we consider it a responsibility to have so much money and we want to do good with it, not waste it or screw it up.”
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“We made a little card, put a check in it, and gave it to them.”
But there was also an important message from Nigel.
“He said a great thing,” said Sharon. “He said, ‘Whatever we gave you – because some we may have just met and just gave them a sign – please don’t think of it as a reflection of what we won, just think about which one Difference this money will make for you ‘.
“We can’t give everything away because we had to take care of ourselves and we had two young children. We have the rest of our lives ahead of us, but we wanted to change as many lives as possible.” .
One of their largest donations, however, went to the Francis House Hospice in Manchester, which they cared about after their niece died at the age of 18.
Nigel is also now the chairman of the local Stockdales charity, where his mother used to work.
National Lottery and EuroMillions
After visiting with Christmas presents for a year, they fell in love with the place and, after winning, made regular donations to them to organize other fundraising events like a golf day and an autumn ball.
It was also important for Sharon and Nigel to keep their sons on the ground while they grow up with multi-million dollar parents.
Reece is 15 and Lewis has just turned 12, which she’s only doing one and three at the time of massive family news.
“You just grew up with it,” said Sharon. “It took us a while to tell them because they didn’t understand and I think the kids at school questioned the boys.
“They came home and said, ‘Mom, did we win the lottery?’ and then we had to sit them down and tell them.
“We have always said that you respect what people have, never brag and never brag. We were just blessed and lucky.
The couple with baskets they made for grooms last year
(Image: Anthony Devlin)
“We have always said that we consider it a responsibility to have that much money and we want to do good with it, not waste it or screw it up.”
Sharon added, “Even now this Christmas season, they don’t ask about anything stupid. In fact, they’re probably getting less because we don’t want to give them too much.
“Like a parent, winning the lottery is not linked to a book. You study all the time.”
Eleven years later, Sharon says they still want to do a big thing.
“We wanted to go to Hawaii to my 50th Hawaii. Hawaii 5-0,” she laughed. “But that has obviously been delayed. It’s still on our tick list.”
But after the past 18 months, Sharon says that they are simply grateful that they are all “still here and healthy.”
“Our main thing is the future of the boys. We just want to support the children now and prepare them for life.
“But don’t rely on us. Get them to live on their own like any other child should.”
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