I won £115million on the Lottery, then immediately gave half of it away: EuroMillions jackpot winner 'inspired by Dolly Parton' sets up charitable trust to help others share in her good fortune

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 11:41 EDT, 6 September 2026 | Updated: 11:50 EDT, 6 September 2026 A National Lottery winner who was inspired by the late Dolly Parton's generosity set up a charitable trust to help share her newfound £115million fortune.Frances Connolly, 60, donated half her winnings in 2019 when she won the enormous EuroMillions jackpot with her husband Paddy. She then donated nearly £60million after being inspired by the late country singer. In honour of her 60th birthday, seven athletes who appreciated Ms Connolly's support for young sporting talent will undertake a series of gruelling challenges to raise money for the couple's PFC Trust, which funds good causes in the North East of England.Ms Connolly, who was a social worker and teacher, helped others from a young age while she was growing up in Northern Ireland, well before the life-changing lottery win.Her father was a fan of country and western music and Dolly Parton was one of his favourites.Ms Connolly described the singer, who died last month aged 80, as an 'inspiration' for her philanthropy.After Parton's death, it was said she could have been a billionaire had she not given so much of her wealth away to causes such as child literacy. Frances and Paddy Connolly won the £115million EuroMillions jackpot in 2019. Here they are pictured celebrating with champagne Ms Connolly said her philanthropic ventures were inspired by the generosity of the late country singer Dolly Parton Ms Connolly has launched her latest charity venture via her PFC Trust at Middlesbrough VelodromeMs Connolly and her husband now estimate they have given away half of their lottery winnings over the years.The 60-year-old grandmother, who has three daughters, said: '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.' The couple's PFC Trust has bought respite caravans for young carers to take a break, funded loneliness projects and provided digital technology for older people. It has also delivered emergency food parcels and paid for defibrillators at sports clubs. Launching a family fun day at Middlesbrough Velodrome on Sunday, there will be a series of events, building up to a team taking on the Great North Run for the PFC Trust.