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A postman who handed in his notice after bagging a £2.6 million jackpot is back doing his rounds – delivering Christmas presents for carers.
Former Royal Mail worker Matt Evans, 40, who won big on the lottery in 2015, formed a WhatsApp group with fellow winners to help others over the festive period.
Under the code name ‘Operation Snowball’, the millionaires put together luxury hampers for Cardiff hospice workers to spread some Christmas cheer after a difficult year.
Matt volunteered to use his experience to deliver the presents to City Hospice, in Whitchurch, where staff care for 550 patients with life-limiting or terminal illnesses.
He said: ‘It has been really good being able to get out and help the hospice. We put together nine hampers altogether.’
City Hospice’s chief executive, Liz Andrews, said: ‘The team are honoured to have been chosen by National Lottery winners to receive these beautiful festive hampers.
‘They will certainly bring some cheer at the end of a very tough year.’
Matt helped prepare the hampers along with several other winners, including 111 call handler Davinia Pritchard and former hospital worker Julie Amphlett and partner Chris.
Davinia won £1 million five years ago but decided against giving up her vital emergency services work. After facing the busiest year she has ever experienced, she wanted to ‘give something back’ to frontline workers.
She told Wales Online: ‘This year has been so busy and such a scary time for so many people, especially the frontline staff putting themselves at risk.
‘The calls this year have gone through the roof, but we all lucky to be able to go home to family and friends.’
Former postman Matt told of how his winning ticket sat in his trouser pocket for three days before realising he had become an instant millionaire five years ago.
He didn’t realise his fortune until he went to check his ticket at the local newsagents.
Football fan Matt treated himself to a Cardiff City season ticket and later turned his back garden into a pitch – complete with a dugout.
Matt, who became a father earlier this year when partner Hollie gave birth to son Sonny in June, said: ‘It has been a very strange year. We have virtually been in lockdown since March.
‘We were keeping Hollie safe because she was heavily pregnant and then when Sonny was born, we stayed close to home to keep him as safe as possible.
‘Sonny is such a good baby and loves his food. We are really looking forward to celebrating his first Christmas.’
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