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THE WEALTHY ALTERNATIVE
Delivery driver scoops £ 1m on lottery scratchcard while buying first vape
Words : Gordon Stribling
Switching to vaping benefits not just the health of smokers but their finances , too . And for one lucky 63-year-old , picking up that first vape proved to be instantly lifechanging .
Over the Easter weekend , Southampton meat delivery van driver John McFadden became one of several new lottery millionaires when he popped into a shop to by a vape to help him quit smoking .
McFadden said : “ I knew I had to do something about my smoking . With the change from buying the vape , I bought a scratchcard and took it home .
“ When I started scratching it off , it said £ 50,000 under the first number and I thought ‘ Whoopee !’. I carried on and just kept seeing more and more £ 50,000s . I thought it was a lot but didn ’ t know what to believe .”
McFadden was understandably ‘ stunned ’ and ‘ could not believe it was real ’, so he called Camelot to check his ticket . The games company confirmed that he was indeed a winner … and that the card actually scooped the maximum £ 1M jackpot prize .
McFadden now plans to use his winnings to move closer to his children and grandchildren .
He said : “ After my divorce , my children moved to Weymouth so now they and my grandkids all live there . I see them as much as I can but am often away driving the van .
“ Having a base close to them will mean I can see them all so much more . Hopefully , the bar and hot tub I plan to have in my new back garden will also mean more fun family time .
“ I ’ m not planning to give up work – I ’ m nowhere near retirement age . But I do work long hours so cutting back a bit will help me to spend more time with my family .”
The delivery driver has already treated himself to a new Skoda Kamiq to celebrate the win and is making plans to holiday across Asia .
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