Dad wins £3m Omaze Spanish villa after being impressed by used armchair

A father has gained a £3million Spanish villa in an Omaze draw after he was impressed to purchase a ticket by a lady who offered him a second-hand armchair.

Graham Dunlop, 52, went to gather the battered leather-based chair he purchased from a lady on-line – who mentioned he may have it at no cost if he donated to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

He made his donation however then determined to enter the Omaze prize draw after recognizing it was supporting the charity.

Mr Dunlop then gained the keys to a spectacular Spanish villa price over £3million in addition to £250,000 in money – all due to the second-hand armchair.

He nonetheless has the chair which is usually utilized by one in all his pet canine Maisy – which he might rename ‘Omaisy’ after scooping the Omaze Grand Prize.

His magnificent four-bedroom villa in Mallorca is full with swimming pool and gorgeous mountain views.

Mr Dunlop revealed the chair vendor needed him to donate cash to Alzheimer’s Research UK – as her late husband had dementia.

He mentioned: ‘The purpose I entered the draw is sort of random actually, I’d been after an armchair for my residence workplace for some time and one popped up on Gumtree.

‘I went to select it up however once we arrived the lady refused to take any cash for it.

‘Instead, she requested that we put one thing in direction of an Alzheimer’s charity, as her late husband had dementia.

‘So I made a donation to Alzheimer’s Research UK, then noticed that they’d additionally partnered with Omaze, so I purchased an entry to the Superdraw on high.

‘I did not give it a second thought and had completely forgotten I’d even entered.

‘My spouse did not just like the look of my fortunate chair at first, however in fact she completely loves it now!

‘You may say my £3 million prize price me an armchair and a leg! I’ll carry the chair out right here for certain, though it would look a bit odd subsequent to the pool.’

The property comes mortgage-free and with all authorized charges lined.

Mr Dunlop, who purchased his profitable entry for £75, has been married to his spouse Amanda for 15 years they usually have two youngsters, an 18-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son.

The father-of-two, who’s initially from Edinburgh however moved to England 30 years in the past, has been working in IT for the previous 25 years.

Amanda is a part-time major faculty trainer. The couple have lived of their present four-bedroom home close to Southampton since 2014.

They have two canine Maisy, a 12-year-old Labradoodle, and Hudson, a three-year-old Colliepoo.

Mr Dunlop mentioned they should rename Maisy ‘Omaisy’ after scooping the Omaze Grand Prize.

When Omaze first contacted Mr Dunlop to inform him he’d gained a prize, he had forgotten he had entered.

He celebrated his enormous win ‘one of the simplest ways a British man can’ by ‘popping the kettle on having a cup of tea’.

He continued: ‘This villa is solely gorgeous, I really like the design of the place and the views are spectacular.

‘I simply cannot consider it is all ours – even when I jumped within the pool I do not suppose it could sink in!

‘We love Spain however by no means dreamed we would ever personal a spot right here – particularly one like this! I might need to work on my Spanish a bit – though I can order a cerveza with no issues!

‘I’ve bought a big prolonged household that we have not seen for some time – I’m actually trying ahead to getting us all collectively out right here.’

He added: ‘I’ve by no means gained something earlier than – however that is price ready 52 years for! I’m undecided what we will do long run but.

‘We’ll undoubtedly be having fun with a couple of household holidays right here – no matter we determine, this win is unbelievable for our household’s future.’

Mr Dunlop’s new house is a tranquil oasis situated inside strolling distance from the city Selva and village Caimari within the standard journey vacation spot of Mallorca and is only a quick flight away from a number of UK airports.

The bespoke design of the attractive vacation retreat celebrates conventional Spanish options equivalent to stone partitions and terracotta rooftops – while additionally encompassing a recent really feel indoors – with vibrant and spacious open plan residing areas.

There is a big swimming pool with chill-out areas and loungers for when Mr Dunlop appears like taking a siesta or sunbathing after a swim. The whole property provides great spectacular views of the Spanish countryside and Serra de Tramuntana mountains.

Inside, there’s a state-of-the-art kitchen full with island eating, a lightweight crammed conservatory with flooring to ceiling glass doorways providing views of the manicured gardens, and an expensive front room with ornate hearth – which additionally offers direct entry to the landscaped courtyard and barbecue space with its personal stone oven.

The high flooring of the property has a trendy major bed room suite full with ensuite rest room and dressing room – plus two extra visitor bedrooms. The decrease flooring additionally offers one other ensuite bed room with a roll high tub.

To the East of the property there’s a sizeable terrace with thatched roof pergola overlooking the mountains. It’s furnished with a luxurious couch with espresso desk and is the perfect area for Mr Dunlop and his household to benefit from the dawn or a sundowner on the finish of an extended day’s stress-free.

The property additionally has in depth gardens that includes Fruit Trees and different flora discovered within the area. The gardens have been superbly landscaped to create quite a lot of terraces and personal areas good for Mr Dunlop to chill out with mates and dine alfresco anytime of the day.

As effectively as making Mr Dunlop a multi-millionaire, the Omaze Million Pound House Superdraw, Mallorca, additionally raised £3,100,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK – the UK’s main dementia analysis charity – in simply six weeks.

Dementia is the UK’s main reason for demise, claiming greater than 74,000 lives in 2022. Sadly, if nothing adjustments, one in two folks might be straight affected by the situation – both by caring for somebody with it, creating it themselves, or each.

Although the primary technology of Alzheimer’s remedies confirmed to sluggish the illness are on the horizon, there are none but accessible within the UK.

Alzheimer’s Research UK is working to alter this, and to develop extra and higher therapies that might be essential to actually shift the dial towards the illness. Compared to different critical situations, nonetheless, comparatively few medical trials are going down within the UK. This means folks with dementia within the UK are prone to lacking out on the prospect to participate in life-changing analysis.

The £3,100,000 raised by the newest partnership with Omaze will help the charity’s Clinical Accelerator Programme, boosting medical analysis for dementia throughout the UK and dashing up progress in direction of a remedy.

Hilary Evans, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK mentioned: ‘We’re delighted that Omaze, and all those that entered the Omaze Million Pound House Superdraw in Mallorca, have raised an exceptional £3,100,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

‘Nearly one million folks within the UK have dementia, and we urgently want to seek out extra and higher remedies in order that we will take away the worry, hurt and heartbreak that this devastating situation causes.

‘The important funds raised will help our Clinical Accelerator Programme, which can enhance medical analysis going down within the NHS and in the end velocity up progress in direction of a remedy. This is an thrilling step ahead in our efforts to remodel the lives of individuals affected by dementia

‘Thank you Omaze, and everybody who entered, for standing with us for a remedy.’

This is the second time the charity has teamed up with Omaze.

The first partnership, in 2022, raised £1 million that helped Alzheimer’s Research UK to guard and proceed progress in dementia analysis in the course of the pandemic.

‘This newest donation brings the entire raised for the charity by Omaze to £4.1 million.

James Oakes, Chief International Officer at Omaze, mentioned: ‘Everyone at Omaze is delighted that Graham and his household have gained this magical villa in Mallorca, while additionally contributing to the unimaginable £3,100,000 raised for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

‘Omaze offers folks the prospect to win superb homes, like this spectacular property in Spain, while additionally introducing charities to huge new audiences that may in any other case be out of attain – it is an actual win-win for each charities and entrants. We’re extremely proud that the Omaze group has raised greater than £31 million for good causes throughout the UK.’

Draw entries for the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Cotswolds can be found now at omaze.co.uk. The draw closes on Sunday twenty fifth February for on-line entries and Tuesday twenty seventh February 2024 for postal entries.