10 Dec 2021 Community

The Big K Lottery reaches new milestone

Founded all the way back in 2000, The Kirkwood’s Big K Lottery has raised millions of pounds to support patients and families affected by life limiting illnesses across Kirklees. As our weekly lottery reaches a new milestone, we wanted to thank everyone who has taken part over the years and all those who continue to Support Life by playing each week.

The Kirkwood’s Big K Lottery now has over 14,000 weekly numbers in the weekly draw. Over two decades after it launched (initially as the 2,000 club for those with good memories), the funds raised from our Lottery continue to help The Kirkwood provide the very best care for people across Kirklees, whether on our In-Patient Unit, in their own homes or in care homes.

The Big K Lottery, as it is now known, was launched in the year 2000 with the aim of reaching 2,000 members. However, over the past 21 years our Lottery has grown into something much bigger!

The Big K Lottery now raises around £730,000 per year and is a huge contributor to the overall funds raised by The Kirkwood, which go towards supporting our charitable work. Since its inception, and thanks to the support of our amazing and loyal players, the Big K Lottery has raised an amazing £7m – and continues to grow every week.

Players of our Big K Lottery are directly supporting The Kirkwood’s mission to provide the very best care for people affected by any life limiting illness here in Kirklees. Every time they play, they’re not simply supporting our work. They are supporting life itself. Helping to constantly improve quality of life for those in our care – against all of the odds.

The Kirkwood’s Lottery Manager, Dawn Walker, was instrumental in setting up the 2000 Club and remains a key part of the Big K Lottery’s success all these years later.

On the Big K Lottery’s continued success, Dawn said: “It’s fantastic that our lottery has hit this incredible new milestone. It’s a phenomenal number of players and I would like to say a huge thank you to every single one of them.

“The funds they help to raise are so valuable to the care we provide people, not just in our In-Patient Unit, but out in the community, in people’s own homes and in care homes too.

“The amount of money we have raised over the past 20 years is humbling, because it is all down to the fact that local people believe in the care we provide and are motivated to support us to keep going. Being from the local area, I am very proud to play a small part in helping to raise funds to support families in our local area.”

If you would like to become part of the Big K Lottery and help The Kirkwood Support Life in your local community, visit: thekirkwood.org.uk/lottery