Phoenix group at Blackpool Victoria Hospital receives donation from lottery winner

Diana De Gilio’s cousin Brian and his wife Sandra, from Kirkham, are both members of the Phoenix Bowel Cancer Support Group.

Diana, 70, won £1million on the EuroMillions Mega Friday on May 27 and her first charity gift was presented to the Phoenix group.

Diana, who until recently has lived in a campervan in New Zealand and is a self-confessed “adrenaline junkie”, wanted to give the money to the Phoenix group as she had seen how it affected Sandra.

She said: “I knew what Sandra had been through and I knew they had this group going.

“People go through hell so it’s good that the group is there for them.

“It’s nice to be able to help. I just wanted them to have enough money so they didn’t have to worry about fund-raising. They do so much for people.

“The main thing the group provides is support. They’ll be able to go to really nice places now and it’s all thanks to Camelot!”

Sandra, a founding member of the Phoenix group which has been in existence since March 2015, said: “I just can’t believe it – the fact that Diana has thought to give us this donation is amazing.

“It will make a big difference to the group as we are all volunteers. We have more than 30 members.

“Many people lose their confidence when they have bowel cancer and don’t want to leave the house.

“Now we can give them a reason to come out and do things. They will be supported and the money will help us to do that.

“It’s important for people to have something to look forward to.”

Brian added: “It’s wonderful. Diana is the sort of person who likes to go out and have a good time and she wants others to have fun as well.

“This gift is something special and it’s something for us to build on.

“We’ll put on some nice events for the group members and we’ll keep in touch with Diana to let her know how they go.

“I think Diana has been very generous in her first donation.”

Diana who has three daughters, seven grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren and has worked in the UK as a carer on and off over the last few years, said she was hoping to do a ‘wing walk’ when she was in Blackpool but needed to have a certificate from a doctor as she was over the age of 65.

She said: “I’ll be back when I have my medical certificate! I love going on the rollercoasters at the Pleasure Beach. I base jumped 192 metres off Auckland’s Sky Tower for my 69th birthday!”

Diana bought her ticket from a tiny shop in the village of Great Massingham near Kings Lynn on May 26.

On the same ticket Diana also won a £40,000 trip to Bali and Lombok.

She is now planning to go on the holiday with her good friend Sandy Marsden who was with her when she bought the winning ticket.

Diana sold her house, her car and everything else she owned in 2001 to hit the road to tour New Zealand in her beloved campervan.

She said she enjoys life on the road and would not sell her campervan.

Nicola Seymour from Blackpool, another founding member of the group, added: “I’m excited and overwhelmed by Diana’s generosity.

“We have people in the group who are very poorly so we will do something extra special for them.

“I don’t think Diana knows how much of a difference she is going to make to our members’ lives. It’s a massive thing.”

Debbie Procter, Colorectal Cancer Nurse Specialist for the Trust, added: “We are so grateful to Diana for her donation.

“We support members of the Phoenix group so we are delighted that they will be able to expand their activities and give people something to look forward to.”

For more information on the Phoenix Bowel Cancer Support Group go to the website: www.phoenixgroupbvh.co.uk or email: [email protected] or call 01253 291919.