Widow sells £4.5m Omaze house to secure her family's future

A 77-year-old widow who won a £4.5 million Cornish mansion in an Omaze draw spent a family summer at the property and then sold it, using the proceeds to help her three children and six grandchildren with mortgages, property and business starts.

June Smith, 77, won a £4.5 million six-bedroom waterfront house in Cornwall in the Omaze Million Pound House Draw in 2023 and later sold the property. She had been living on a single pension after her husband Ron died the year before the win. Ms Smith and her family spent several months together in the home, including an extended visit with relatives flown in from Australia. After that time, she sold the mansion and used the proceeds to assist her children and grandchildren financially. Key facts: - The property overlooks the Fowey Estuary and has six bedrooms across three storeys. - Ms Smith won the house in 2023 and is originally from Essex; she had lost her husband a year earlier. - She spent an "ultimate family summer" in the home with children and six grandchildren before selling. - The sale raised millions, which Ms Smith says she used to clear mortgages, help children onto the property ladder and fund family businesses. - Ms Smith has since bought another home in Fowey and said the move provided lasting peace of mind; James Oakes, President of Omaze, commented that her story shows the impact of the prizes. Summary: Ms Smith chose to sell the £4.5m Omaze-winning house after enjoying a sustained family stay and used the funds to provide financial security for her three children and six grandchildren. She has purchased a different home in Fowey and described the outcome as removing long-standing money worries, while Omaze noted the broader impact of such prizes.