A National Lottery winner who has given away half of her £115 million jackpot says helping other people is simply part of human nature.
Frances Connolly set up a charity trust to support good causes after winning the jackpot with husband Paddy in 2019.
To mark her 60th birthday, seven athletes who appreciated her support for young sporting talent will complete a series of tough challenges to raise money for the couple’s PFC Trust in North East England.
Frances, who worked as a social worker and teacher, helped others from a young age in Northern Ireland, long before her life-changing lottery win.
Her father was a fan of country music, with Dolly Parton a favourite. Frances called the singer, who died last month aged 80, an “inspiration” for her philanthropy.
Following Parton’s death, observers noted she could have been a billionaire had she not gifted so much of her fortune away to causes such as child literacy.
Frances and Paddy estimate they have given away half of their lottery winnings over the years.
Frances, a grandmother who has three daughters, told the PA news agency: “It depends on what you want in life. If your ambition is to be the richest person in the world and be influencing presidents, then you need to keep all your money, or you need to keep a lot of your money.
“But I don’t know anybody who doesn’t share something. I think it’s in mankind to share when you get to a level where you’ve got enough. ’Enough’ is a different level for everybody.
“Maybe if we had been younger I’d have kept more, maybe you’d be a bit more nervous about how much you could give away, but unless I intended to live forever – I was 50-whatever when I won it – so even being generous, I was well over half-way through.
“So as long as the kids are sorted and they had enough to live comfortable, nice lives, I didn’t see the point.”
Paddy continues to run plastics businesses and the couple enjoy good holidays and a large Teesside house, but remain value-conscious, buying second-hand items like a pre-owned Cartier watch or a used Aston Martin.
She said: “We have a lovely life. I always tell people, we have the same life, we just live it bigger. You know, we haven’t particularly changed, if you talk to my friends.”
Frances was thrilled by the support of athletes joining the 60 for 60 Challenge, where the team will run, swim or cycle a total of 60 miles.
Starting with a family fun day at Middlesbrough Velodrome on Sunday, the series of tough events will end with a team completing the Great North Run for the trust.
She said: “They wanted to put something back into the community, and I’m delighted, I couldn’t have been given a better present.
“I am at pains to explain to people that despite being a millionaire, I can’t cure poverty, and I certainly can’t do everything that’s needed to be done on my own.
“I have a team of hundreds of people who work with me all the time. I put a message out – ‘we’re having a fun day on Sunday’ – there’s people baking cakes for us, people turning up to sell raffle tickets.
“We have 50 volunteers that come on the night of our ball. I get help and support every single day.
“I think people just need to be asked, and they just need to have that opportunity to do exactly what I do and change lives.”
The trust has bought respite caravans for young carers, funded loneliness and digital projects for older people, delivered emergency food, and supplied sports clubs with defibrillators.
Paul Hewitson, who will take on the Great North Run for the trust, said: “She has set such an example, and we wanted to help through sport, as we all know how vital it is for young people to live healthier lives.”
To donate, visit justgiving.com/campaign/60for60challenge
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