The £2 Ticket Bringing Care Closer To Home
“Every ticket tells a story,” Anja says. “Behind each one is the care, comfort and compassion that help local families through the toughest times.”
When Anja Hessler picks up the phone to tell someone they’ve won ellenor’s £1,000 weekly jackpot, she can often hear the disbelief – followed by tears, laughter and gratitude.
“People are so genuinely happy,” she says. “Some are struggling financially themselves but still choose to support their local hospice. Paying £2 a week really makes a difference.”
As ellenor’s new Lottery Manager, Anja has quickly learned that the charity’s lottery is about much more than chance. Behind every ticket lies a story of care, compassion and community – and a tangible way for supporters to make a difference close to home.
In the last financial year alone, ellenor’s lottery raised £412,000 after costs – funding specialist hospice care for people with life-limiting illnesses across Gravesham, Dartford and surrounding areas. Around 68 per cent of all proceeds go directly into frontline services.
“The impact is huge,” Anja explains. “Every player is part of making it happen – from care on the ward to wellbeing support in people’s homes.”
Next year is the 30th anniversary of ellenor’s lottery and Anja knows how important it is to move with the times, to work within the schedules of people’s busy modern lives.
“That sense of connection is what makes our lottery so special,” she says. “I’m keen to learn even more about our players, and I’m planning to introduce a short poll or questionnaire to better understand why they play. I also want to combine this with a fun snippet of ‘That’s Me’, so we can share a little more about the players’ stories and connect on a more personal level.”
Anyone can get involved in ellenor’s lottery. Players can choose monthly, quarterly, yearly, or even buy single tickets in ellenor shops.
Anja says: “Even if you live further afield, you can still make a real impact. Every ticket helps provide essential care and support to those who need it most.”
It costs £2 a ticket to take part and there are 50 prizes of £10, one prize of £100 and one prize of £1,000. There is also a rollover which can theoretically reach £10,000. At the end of September, it stood at £6,000 – a fantastic windfall!
Anja admits she didn’t have much knowledge of hospice care before joining ellenor.
“I’ve been completely blown away by the breadth of support the charity provides,” she says. “From Hospice at Home to the ever-expanding wellbeing services, ellenor looks after patients and their families across Gravesham and Dartford. It’s incredible to see how the team supports people not
just medically, but emotionally and practically, both on the ward and out in the community. The range of services and the compassion behind them really opened my eyes to the vital role hospices play in people’s lives.”.
As lottery manager, Anja is particularly proud that 68.48% of the money raised by ellenor’s Lottery goes straight back into ellenor hospice care.
“This is pretty good compared with other lotteries, especially the National Lottery. At ellenor, you have a higher likelihood of winning a prize too,” says Anja.
She knows this is important to the players, who see ellenor as part of their community.
“I recently took part in my first Twilight Walk event, and it was an unforgettable experience,” she says. “Over 1,300 people of all ages came together to walk in memory of loved ones. The atmosphere was so heartwarming — so many families have been touched by ellenor, and they genuinely want to support and give back.
“It really highlighted the charity’s deep roots in the community and the way it brings people together in moments of reflection, remembrance, and celebration.”
Anjalives with her Husband Andre, 16-year-old son Leo and Parson Russell Terrier Pixie in Ramsgate.
“I was born and raised in Germany and moved to the UK in 1995 after finishing my studies, initially pursuing my dream of working in theatre and stage design,” she says. “Over time, my career path shifted towards marketing and data Insight, and I spent 15 years developing a global community of healthcare professionals and patients involved in market research and insight studies.
“After having my son, I decided to take some time out and work more flexibly, combining freelance marketing with my own artist studio and projects with arts charities. I ran events with artists to support local communities, which allowed me to bring together my passion for creativity and giving back.
“My journey to ellenor came almost by chance. I initially covered a short-term role as corporate partnership manager, and from day one, I felt so welcome – the team’s passion is infectious. I then had the opportunity to take on the lotterymanager role, which I was thrilled to do. I now have lots of ideas to make playing the lottery fun, engaging, and rewarding, and my mission is to show players just how much of a difference every ticket makes for our patients and families.”
Creativity, insight, and relationship-building have always been at the heart of what Anja does. Whether through thoughtful campaigns, engaging experiences, or simply listening well, she enjoys finding imaginative ways to connect people with causes and make a real impact.
“I think people like to play our lottery because it is their way of giving something back to their local community,” she says. “And of course, they enjoy the gambling side of it too. Will they win something, or won’t they?
“I get goosebumps when I phone someone to say they have won £1,000. People are so genuinely happy. They are often struggling financially themselves but still supporting their local hospice. Paying £2 a week is do-able.
“Lottery supporters don’t need to be in our postcode. Patients have family members all over the country who might want to support what we do or remember their loved ones. It’s a way for everyone to be involved.”
- To take part in the lottery, go to ellenor’s website or call 01322 626509.
