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A £1,000 lottery win, enables a mum and daughter to go on their dream trip to New York to celebrate her daughter’s thirtieth birthday.

Local businesswoman, Kim Lahiri, will be jetting off to the Big Apple in March with her daughter after winning £1,000 in the Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) weekly lottery draw.

Kim, a natural perfumer, skincare and plant extract specialist, from St Austell was totally surprised when she was informed of her big win.

She said: “I was working from home, and I got the call and I said, sorry?

When the cheque did come I thought, this is real! It is in my savings account. I have never won anything in my life before, so this was a real treat!

Kim has visited and loved Cornwall since she was a child and moved down from Surrey two and half years ago, having consulted on the Roseland since 2020. As part of her company’s remit to give back to society and share the knowledge she has accrued over nearly 50 years in the industry, she began donating to CHSW.

“I was approached by a CHSW lottery team member in Aldi in St Austell, so I signed up to support the charity and now every time I go into Aldi, the CHSW team recognise me and always say hello to me.”

Kim has decided to put the winnings towards a trip to New York in March 2025 for herself and her daughter to enjoy. She has booked a slot at the famous Kleinfeld bridal store for her daughter to try on dresses designed by Randy, the charismatic designer known for being on the hit show ‘Say Yes to the Dress’.

Her daughter grew up watching the show and vowed that if she ever got married it would have to be in one of Randy’s designs. He now has his own label in the New York store, and she has already selected the ones she wants to try on.

“We’ve had a tough time as a family in the past 10 years, so I wanted to mark her special birthday with some memorable treats.

The first thing I thought when I found out I’d won was, well that is my daughter’s ticket paid for the trip! This is a magical trip for my daughter who has never been before!

Kim has expressed how keen she is to get more involved with CHSW, especially her local children’s hospice, Little Harbour, in Porthpean.

She said: “I may be 66, but I am not ready to put the cardigan and slippers on, I just love being able to create botanical solutions for everyday conditions that support and improve quality of life.

“My 2025 wish is to get more involved in fundraising. I read the newsletters from CHSW, but I want to know and do more! I have been on the tour and am finding out how my skills can benefit the hospice.

“I’d love to hold some free workshops for the children, their parents and not forgetting the sensational team working there. 

I feel very strongly about this, having worked with people with life-limiting conditions before. People forget how hard it can be for the mums and dads. Even if it's just a short treatment, or a product they can use, that can help with stress and anxiety.

“It is about making the quality of life better in these difficult circumstances.”

Kim was born in India and moved to Africa at just 10 months old. Her father was a surgeon, and she learned about the natural remedies of plants from him. As a very young child, she used to help him harvest plants from his medicinal herb garden and watch him make remedies to give to the local community who perhaps could not afford to see a doctor or go to the local hospital.

“My father was ahead of his time and had a big heart. As a child, I learned the importance of helping people, looking to the wealth of remedies found in nature.

“I have spent the last 35 years of my career specialising in formulating botanical solutions for everyday conditions and striving to make a difference in the lives of those that need it.” I look forward to taking my ideas forward with the team and raising funds through natural products created specifically for Little Harbour.”