A CHRISTMAS shopping trip to buy a present for charity brought unexpected festive cheer for a Co Derry mother-of-two.
Stephanie Harkin (28), from Drumahoe, bought the National Lottery scratchcard after popping out to buy a present for her two young sons to put under their school Christmas tree for St Vincent de Paul.
The Diamond Riches card turned out to be a winner, landing the Drumahoe woman £100,000 in time for Christmas.
She said she bought the card at a Tesco store while waiting for her mother to finishing her shopping.
Stephanie said: “Once I saw the three diamonds, I knew I had won a large amount as I’d played this card before but I didn’t want to get too excited.”
When she told mechanic husband, Kieran (33), he told her to double check at the store before the winning ticket was confirmed.
Now the family intends enjoying a New Year trip to Disneyland Paris and a sun holiday on the Spanish coastal resort Benidorm.
“We had a truly lovely Christmas, made all the better with that warm fuzzy feeling that a hundred grand in the bank can give you.
“Now we can’t wait to get away on holiday, especially our trip to Disney for the first time as I know the boys will absolutely love it,” Stephanie said.
