Julie Bowes-Shorten began playing bingo at the local Mecca club bingo hall shortly after battling and recovering from cancer - twice. Now unfortunately undergoing treatment for her third diagnosis of the disease, the 50-year-old mother of three children scooped a huge jackpot at the Aylsham Road club and won the National Bingo Game prize as well as the house prize of £495, for having completed a full house in 40 numbers. That's the lowest call in any of the 470 clubs playing nationwide.
The lucky mother and bingo player could not believe it. Bowes-Shorten said: "I feel like luck's turned around for us", as she has not been able to earn money since giving up her job four or five years ago, and also being unable to claim benefits. "This has come as a big windfall for us... We're all in shock. I would never have thought I could win that much at bingo, not in a million years."
Mrs. Bowes-Shorten lives with her husband Daniel, and used to be in charge of the Blue Boar children's nursery. She had worked through her chemotherapy the first two times, before it closed down and she was diagnosed with a new form of the disease.
The Norwich mum intends to use her bingo jackpot winnings to ensure that her three children and four grandchildren have a great Christmas this year.
Julie is determined to beat the cancer, saying: "I suffer with a lot of pain but I'm a determined person, and I take each day as it comes. I won't let it beat me."
Read more about Julie's windfall at the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press.
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