Lottery winner gives away HALF of her staggering £115m winnings after being inspired by Dolly Parton

A LOTTERY winner who gave away almost £60million to charity says Dolly Parton inspired her generosity. Frances Connolly says she’s given away half of her huge £115m EuroMillions jackpot prize since winning with her husband in 2019. The couple won the lottery in 2019 Credit: PA Mrs Connolly said she felt inspired by the generosity of Dolly Parton Credit: Redferns Mrs Connolly was a social worker and teacher before the life changing win and felt inspired to help those in need by the kindness of the late country singer Dolly Parton. After Parton’s death, many said they believe she could’ve been a billionaire if she hadn’t given away so much of her wealth to good causes. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Frances and Paddy estimate they have given away half of their lottery winnings over the years and even set up a charitable trust to support good causes. Frances said: “We have a lovely life. Now seven athletes are taking part in challenges to celebrate her 60th birthday Credit: Tom Wilkinson/PA Wire The couple set up a charitable trust after winning the lottery Credit: AFP/Getty Images “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. “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. Most read in The Sun “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.” In honour of the grandmother of three’s 60th birthday, seven athletes will compete in a series of gruelling challenges to raise money for the couple’s charity trust. The couple’s trust has bought respite caravans so young carers can take a proper break, funded loneliness projects and digital tech for older people, delivered emergency food parcels, and put defibrillators into local sports clubs. Frances was delighted with the support of the athletes taking part in 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, there will be a series of tough events, culminating in a team taking on 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.” 5 comments5