The Rockinghorse Lottery was set up by Trevor Watson in 2014. Trevor used to run the lotteries for Brighton and Hove Albion but when they decided to change direction, Trevor sought a new home for his fantastic team of fundraisers.
Trevor explained, “Many of the lottery agents had been selling Albion scratch cards and lottery tickets for over 30 years. The service they provided extended beyond the sale, as it involved going to regular customers, for whom they were often their only visitor each week. I realised that I couldn’t just walk away, though I would not blame a single agent for thinking differently.”
So, in 2014 Trevor made contact with the then Rockinghorse CEO Ryan Heal, to gauge his interest about a new lottery. Ryan was very enthusiastic, so Trevor set up the society ‘Friends of Rockinghorse’. He just needed to convince the lottery agents to join the project.
“I feared most would choose to enjoy warm evenings indoors. However, it was incredibly humbling that all bar one wanted to support Rockinghorse, and the one retiree willingly handed over his customers to another agent.”
Cut to ten years later, and while quite a few agents may have retired, there is still a fantastic team treading the streets from Burgess Hill to Littlehampton, collecting the weekly lottery from their equally committed regular customers. In addition, many supporters of Rockinghorse take part by standing order.
And the wonderful part of the whole story is, that thanks to Trevor and his fantastic volunteers, more than £125,000 has been raised for Rockinghorse over these 10 years. Plus, there have been hundreds of winners including many who have enjoyed the brilliant £5,000 jackpot.
Trevor and his wife Julie (who live in Henfield), have their own connection to Rockinghorse. Their daughter started visiting the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital from the age of two and was a regular over the next sixteen years.
Julie said, “Kelly had a few problems and as every parent knows a visit to a hospital is an incredibly stressful and concerning experience. When we first went, The Alex was based in Dyke Road, a horribly dated and unpleasant building.
“However, from walking in and seeing the actual rocking horse, our spirits and more importantly those of Kelly, lifted every time. Throughout the years the support we were given by everyone was incredible.”
Kelly is now grown up and fully recovered. But for Julie those memories linger, “We have experienced what many parents and young patients go through and perhaps not surprisingly Rockinghorse is our favourite charity. Therefore, it is wonderful to be able to give a little back.”
Thanks so much to Trevor, Julie and every single one of the Rockinghorse Lottery agents who have helped achieve this amazing milestone and helped so many babies, children and young people over the last ten years.
If you would like to join the £2 weekly lottery and be in with a chance to win up to £5,000, just call Trevor on 07880 238494 or email rockinghorselotto@tawfc.co.uk
Emma Henderson with Trevor Watson doing the latest Rockinghorse Lottery draw.
