Submitted by SWFBU on
NEW LOTTERY TO SUPPORT FAMILIES OF FIREFIGHTERS KILLED IN ACTION
A new weekly lottery, The Firefighters 100 Lottery has been launched tomorrow to help support the families of firefighters killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. Tickets have gone on sale from 1 October, with the first draw on Bonfire Night, 5 November.
The Firefighters 100 Lottery, which will be run by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) using independent on-line lottery experts Gatherwell Ltd, will give people the opportunity to win thousands of pounds in prize money as well as supporting good causes.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “People might assume that if a firefighter is killed or seriously hurt on the job that their families are automatically taken care of. They would be mistaken. There are significant gaps in the support and financial assistance that the families receive. It is heart-breaking stuff to see bereaved people endure even more suffering, and hardship. We hope the funds raised from this lottery will go a long way to plug those holes in the system.
“You have a much better chance of winning a cash prize playing the Firefighters 100 Lottery than you do from the National Lottery or the health lottery. So why not sign up now, support firefighters and secure a chance to win one of the three guaranteed cash prizes each week, up to a maximum of £25,000”
Funds raised from Firefighters 100 Lottery will also be used to establish memorials for fallen firefighters as well as making sure the lessons learned from their deaths are not forgotten. This will, the FBU say, better protect the firefighters of today and the public they serve. The lottery will also support research into the physical, mental health and well-being of firefighters, and will offer humanitarian assistance to people affected by fire or disaster.
Participation in the lottery is open to everyone aged 16 or over.
Firefighters 100 Lottery is being launched in the run up to the FBU’s centenary celebrations marking 100 years since the union was formed in 1918.
To enter the lottery go to: www.firefighters100lottery.co.uk
Play the Firefighters 100 Lottery and you will be helping to:
- Support the families of firefighters killed or seriously injured in the line of duty
- Honour the bravery and sacrifice of those firefighters killed in the line of duty
- Promote the lessons to be learnt from firefighter deaths and serious injuries
- Support research into the physical and mental health and well-being of firefighters and the “all hazards” nature of the modern fire and rescue service
- Support humanitarian assistance for those affected by fire or disaster
Notes
- Firefighters 100 Lottery tickets cost only £1 per week and winners will be drawn each Saturday.
- Three people will be guaranteed a cash-prize every week.
- First prize is 20% of all lottery proceeds raised each week, up to a maximum of £25,000. Second prize is 6% of all lottery proceeds raised each week and the third prize 3%.
- Firefighters 100 Lottery has the fairest win-win prize structure - the more tickets sold each week, the bigger the cash prizes; the smaller the cash prizes, the greater the chances of winning them.
- Weekly tickets can be bought on-line and in advance by monthly repeat direct debit or can be bought in 3, 6 and 12-month batches.
- Participants can buy more than one ticket for the weekly draws and may choose their own six-digit numbers (as long as the numbers haven’t already been allocated) or do a lucky dip.
- Firefighters 100 Lottery tickets can be bought by any FBU member, their families, friends, work colleagues or other members of the public aged 16 or over.
- At least 50% of all lottery ticket money raised will go to the five firefighter-related good causes listed above.
