Margaret Brennan first signed up to play in the weekly lottery draw three years ago when she got chatting to a CancerCare team member while on a shopping trip in Kendal.

Margaret has personal experience of cancer; a few years ago, she was diagnosed with skin cancer. Margaret noticed a change in one of her moles and went to the doctor where she found out she had stage-one skin cancer.

“As my mother had a melanoma before, I was very in tune with what to look for and I instantly noticed the change,” Margaret said. “I met a lady from CancerCare in the shopping centre and we talked about the charity and what they offer. I was keen to support any charity that helps people who have had cancer. It’s such an insidious disease and it has been a big part of my life; both family members and I have had cancer, and I have close friends who have died from it.”

Margaret buys one ticket per week via direct debit.

“It’s not very much at all and I never notice it going out of my bank account,” she said.

Margaret received a £500 cheque in the post: “It was a very, very nice surprise. The only thing I’ve won prior to this was a bottle of champagne from a local priory!

“I play the lottery to support and add something back to the community, but the winnings were a very nice bonus,” Margaret continued. “I’ve been extremely fortunate that I was diagnosed at stage-one, but I know others aren’t as lucky. I know friends who have used CancerCare’s services and they couldn’t speak more highly of them; I know what a difference they make to people's lives."