Charity gains from disgruntled Ryanair passenger who ate scratchcard ticket
A charity which makes dreams come true for sick children has become the unlikely benefactor of a disgruntled airline passenger who ate his winning scratch card ticket.
When You Wish Upon A Star pays for seriously-ill children to go on dream holidays.
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Hayley Davies, from the charity, and Ryanair's Stephen McNamara
In December, it took 30 Leicestershire youngsters to Arctic Circle to meet Father Christmas and Rudolph.
Now, it has had a wish of its own granted with the award of a windfall from airline Ryanair.
It will receive a 10,000 euro jackpot – just over £9,000 – snubbed by a passenger on a flight from Krakow, Poland, to East Midlands Airport last month.
The British man was so incensed at not being able to claim his Brand Force scratch card prize on the flight that he ate his ticket in front of stunned fellow passengers.
Hayley Davies, East Midlands co-ordinator for the charity, described the donation as "a dream come true".
She said: "This 10,000 euro donation will help make the dreams of many ill children become a reality and could not have come at a better time.
"We thank everyone at Ryanair, Brand Force and the hungry passenger who helped secure this windfall."
The charity said the money could pay for three families to go to Walt Disney World in Florida.
Some 40,000 passengers voted in an online poll by Ryanair to decide what sort of charity should receive the scratch card winnings.
Half voted for a cause that supports children.
When You Wish Upon a Star was selected by airline bosses as it close to Castle Donington and because of the good work it does.
Stephen McNamara, Ryanair's head of communications, said: "We felt this was a very uplifting charity which tackles some very difficult issues by giving sick children something to look forward to."
After releasing details of the man who ate the winning scratch card, the airline said it had received calls from 50 people claiming to have been the jackpot winner. Forty had not been on the flight.
Leicestershire families to have benefited from When You Wish Upon A Star said the charity was a deserving winner.
Alison Birkin, 42, took her teenage daughter Chloe to Lapland in 2007 on a trip organised and paid for by the charity.
Chloe uses a wheelchair because of a neurological disorder.
Alison, of Loughborough, said: "Chloe loved it. This donation is brilliant news because it means they will be able to carry on running the trip."
4 Comments
by Julie, Leicester
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:22PM
“As if the plane would be carrying ten thousand euros on board so the winning passenger could claim his money hjere and then! Still, one lunatic's loss is a charity's gain, so best outcome, really. Good for Ryanair.”
by A, Leicester
Thursday, March 11 2010, 11:46AM
“I think the person who ate his card needs to chillax and get some serious mental help.”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Thursday, March 11 2010, 10:35AM
“I totally with K, it is a great charity to benefit from this incident. I bet the person's wife/partner/whatever had some stern words!!!”
by K, Leicester
Thursday, March 11 2010, 10:07AM
“I am glad this money has gone to the Wish Upon a Star charity, they can continue with the excellent work they do.
As for this person who ate their ticket, as if the airline's cabin crew would carry that sort of money around with them even in cheque form.
Its a bit like doing the lottery, a retailer can only pay out so much for the bigger prizes you need to send off for them. They obviously didnt need the money.”