Claire Reynolds and Ben Binks entered a raffle for £1, not thinking anything would come of it.
The house they won.
After all, it’s £1 and it’s definitely worth the chance of winning a big prize like that. Little did they know, they’d be entering a raffle that’d change their lives forever! Ben was especially confident though, and entered 100 times, costing £100.
The raffle they entered was for a house and car, collectively worth over £250,000. And they won it. The family of five will move into their £280,000 4 bedroom home soon, as they were struggling for space in their old house. Their new car, a £42,000 Volvo, will also be waiting for them, which I,m sure they’re also thrilled about.
Dale Tate, the houses previous owner, set up the raffle because it’s become increasingly hard to sell property during the coronavirus pandemic.
Car salesman Ben described the moment he realised they’d won: “I was downstairs, and a pal kept ringing me. I told him, ‘I’m in bed mate, what is it?’ and he told me ‘Your lass has won that house in Ossett.’
“I went upstairs and told Claire. She just thought it couldn’t be true. But then we went online and saw that it was. We got in touch with Dale – Claire sent him a message saying; ‘it’s me.’
“We spoke to them on FaceTime and all their neighbours were out on the street raising a glass to us. It was just lovely. They are the kinds of neighbours we’ve always dreamed of having.”
He continued: “We live on a council estate at the moment and to be honest, it’s not a nice one. We’ve always dreamed of getting enough money together to get out. All our life we have wanted something like this to happen to us.”
Claire added: “All I’ve ever wanted is a proper home and now I’ve got one. I’ve always dreamed of living on a cul-de-sac too where the kids can play out in the street safely.
“Now all the kids will have their own room. They are already fighting over who will get the loft room. We’ve never really had anywhere stable. Now my two year old will grow up in a stable home.
“So this has completely saved our whole family. This is life-changing for us.”
Dale, who is moving to Australia soon with his family, is thrilled for the winners, and wishes them all the best.
He said: “We couldn’t be happier.
“I am thrilled it is going to a family in need rather than someone who will simply put it up for auction or some rich investor. I am just completely chuffed.”
It comes with a large back garden.
Ben and Claire are allowing Dale and his family to stay there until they jet away to the land down under in early September, so it gives both families plenty of time to prepare for their separate moves.
