National Lottery millionaires dig deep for epilepsy centre

A LOTTERY winning couple from Thaxted were among a group of volunteers who donned gardening gloves and wellies to help spruce up the gardens at a a facility for people with epilepsy.

Tracy and Tim Orton were among eight National Lottery winners from the East of England – who together are worth over �50m – to help out at St Elizabeth’s Centre for Epilepsy in Perry Green, Much Hadham.

The centre is one of only two in the country which provides specialist care, education and accommodation for people with profound epilepsy and other complex needs.

The volunteers spent the day helping with the centre’s horticulture social enterprise, preparing compost, installing an irrigation system, weeding and planting, as well as tidying up some of the resident’s cottage gardens.

Mr Orton, who scooped almost �3m in March 2004, said: “It really is amazing what you can achieve in just one day when you all work together. I hope the people at the centre get as much enjoyment out of their newly spruced-up gardens as we have had creating them.”

Tracey Harley from St Elizabeth’s Centre said: “We were thrilled that so many lottery winners volunteered to give up their time and help us out for the day.

“We couldn’t have done it with out the groups help and hard work today, and all our residents and staff are delighted with the results.”

For more information at St Elizabeth’s Centre call 01279 843451 or visit stelizabeths.org