Grandma wins $1m on lottery then fulfills dream of professional dancing after heart surgery recovery

A 72 year old grandmother is on cloud nine after experiencing a double dose of good fortune . Terri Picton-Clark, a lively retiree, had previously won a national dance title eight years ago but was forced to consider giving up her beloved hobby due to the high costs involved.

However, her luck changed when she won the Lotto turning just a couple dollars into a whopping million with a Lucky Dip ticket in January, a stroke of good fortune her husband John had always believed would happen. Following a remarkable recovery from open-heart surgery, Terri made a triumphant return to dancing just three months later.

She has now fulfilled her dream of performing at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom, where she was photographed wearing two stunning custom-made dresses that cost £2,000 each. Overjoyed, Terri exclaimed: "When The Blackpool Tower Ballroom granted me this wish I was, for the first time in my life, totally speechless."

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"I am a National Lottery winner and now I am dancing at the world-famous Tower Ballroom."

"I feel like I've won the lottery twice! " "And this just seemed like the perfect moment to buy my dream dresses and go out there in style. It is a day which will remain with me for the rest of my life.", reports the Daily Star .

A Leicestershire woman, who only started dancing two years before winning The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD) Over 50 Bronze Championships in 2016, is a real-world Cinderella story proving you're never too old to live your dreams.

Terri, a lottery winner whose love for 'Strictly Come Dancing' hasn't waned despite a health scare, shared: "I love to keep myself fit and active, so it was a real shock when I suffered the stroke, and it hit me very badly."

The determined Terri didnt let adversity break her stride, saying: "It wasn't without complications and the recovery was a long road but I never gave up hope - I always remained positive and believed that good things would come into my life."

Her tenacity paid off in spectacular fashion as she recounted: "And good things certainly did when I matched five main numbers and the Bonus Ball and won my $1m Lotto prize with a Lucky Dip ticket! ".

Harboring dreams of waltzing at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Terri confessed: "One thing I had always dreamed about, was to dance at the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom."

She couldn't hide her passion as she gushed: "I watch Strictly every year and every time I see those dancers at Blackpool it just fills me with emotion. I wanted to be up there too but never believed it would actually ever happen."

Overjoyed by Terris wish coming true, Aaron Edgar, Operations Manager at The Blackpool Tower and Tower Ballroom, commented: "It was just a delight to see Terri on the dance floor we were so thrilled to be able to grant her this very special wish."

He also expressed awe at her spirit: "She is certainly one incredible lady who knows, we may even see her in Strictly next."