A Greater Manchester chef who scooped £1 million on the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle said his wife thought their victory was a "cruel joke" when she was told of their win.
Ian Steele, 53, from Heywood, initially dismissed an email notification about his prize after checking the National Lottery app showed no matching numbers.
It was only during a work break that he realised he had won through the raffle code system, where each ticket receives a unique code entered into a separate draw.
His wife Nick initially suspected it was a "cruel joke" when he rang with the life-changing news - while Ian joked that he started "shaking like a leaf" when he realised.
Nick initially suspected it was a 'cruel joke' when Ian rang with the life-changing news
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Nick was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 18 years ago while pregnant with the couple's daughter Chloe.
The diagnosis forced her to take medical retirement from her position as a specialist dental nurse at Manchester Hospital, where she had supported and cared for critically ill patients.
"While it was absolutely the right thing to do, it made things that little bit more difficult. We've had to be careful with money and not splurge," Ian said.
The chef explained that his wife's condition meant the family had missed out on experiences that others might take for granted.
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The win 'means everything' to the family, Nick said
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The family's first priority became clear when their daughter Chloe immediately asked if the windfall meant they could finally visit Disneyland.
"We're big Star Wars fans and it's something we've always talked and dreamed about and now that dream will come true," Ian said.
The chef described himself as "the dreamer in the house" who had always promised treats if they ever won big.
"It was only when the lady from The National Lottery turned up to pay us and handed us a bottle of champagne that I think I finally let myself believe it was real," he said.
The couple's daughter Chloe immediately asked if the windfall meant they could finally visit Disneyland
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But in the face of the life-changing sum, Ian has vowed to keep his job as a school chef manager.
The win "means everything" to the family, he said, particularly given the financial constraints they have faced since Nick's early retirement.
"It takes the financial weight off our shoulders," Ian explained.
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