DOZENS of Southampton charities and good causes have benefited in the first year of the city's own lottery, including a group of Saints fans who were able to help send a teenage member to the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament.
Saints Disabled Supporters Association (SDSA) used some of the money raised for them through SO:Lotto to support Andrew Penney as he competed in the Juniors contest at Flushing Meadows in New York earlier this month.
Andrew reached the quarter-final stage of the event. The now 18-year-old from Alresford is showing real promise in the sport which he took up after becoming reliant on a wheelchair following a minor operation.
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SDSA chair Andy Mather told the Daily Echo: "Funds raised from SO:Lotto have been used in various ways to support those with disabilities including assisting disabled supporters to see Saints play at St Mary’s, providing sports equipment for disability teams such as Team Solent Boccia and providing sponsorships.
"We were very happy to support Andrew on this momentous occasion. What an amazing experience it must have been for him with some of the funding from SO:Lotto making this possible.”
Since launching last September, SO:Lotto players have raised more than £9,300 of unrestricted funding for a diverse range of 36 good causes providing support across the city including 'a space arts, Awaaz FM Community Radio, City Catering Southampton, Communicare, Friends of St James' Park, Hamble Hedgehogs, No Limits, SO18 Big Local, Yellow Door and Youth Options.
For every £1 ticket purchased, 60p goes towards helping good causes in the city.
More than 15,500 tickets have been sold with 330 supporters winning prizes, which have totalled £2,498.
Lucky ticketholders have the chance to win up to £25,000 every Saturday through matching numbers.
Tara Doel, on behalf of organisers Southampton Voluntary Services, added: "It has been great to see so many diverse good causes from across the city and their supporters engage in SO:Lotto over the last 12 months.
"We would like to thank everyone who has supported SO:Lotto. We are looking forward to seeing more groups and charities sign up and seeing more funds raised for groups across the city over the next year."
Sign up at solotto.org.uk
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