When Isabelle signed up to the King’s Lottery, winning wasn’t on her mind.
A patient at King’s College Hospital for the past two years, Isabelle joined after speaking to one of the charity’s fundraisers during a hospital visit.
“I learned about all the work the charity does, and £5 a month felt like such a small amount for something that makes such a big difference,” she says. “It felt like an easy way to give back.”
Having spent much of her life around hospitals due to ongoing health issues – and with her best friend and her girlfriend working in healthcare – supporting King’s College Hospital Charity felt very personal.
“I’ve always had really good experiences at King’s. The hospital does brilliant work, and signing up felt like a way of saying thank you.”
Play the King's Lottery
A lovely surprise
When Isabelle found out she had won the King’s Lottery, it came as a complete shock.
“I wasn’t playing to win – it hadn’t even crossed my mind,” she says. “So when I found out, it was such a lovely and unexpected surprise.”
While living in London and working in the TV industry, saving money had always been difficult for Isabelle. Rents in the capital are high, and early career creative work doesn’t always leave much room to plan for the future.
“I didn’t have any savings before,” Isabelle explains. “Now I do – and that feels amazing.”
Looking ahead
Rather than spending the prize straight away, Isabelle has put the money into savings and is now exploring new opportunities. She’s looking at ways to invest in developing her skills and progressing her career.
“Winning has opened up possibilities that didn’t feel realistic before,” she says. “What felt like a dream now feels like something I can actually work towards.”
Supporting care at King's
For Isabelle, the King’s Lottery is about more than the chance to win – it’s about supporting a hospital that has been there when it mattered most.
“It’s a small amount each month, but it makes you feel like you’re part of something really important.”
By playing the King’s Lottery, supporters help fund projects that improve care and experience for patients at King’s – and every now and then, someone gets a lovely surprise too.
