![\"Gemma](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0_JS371640382.jpg\")
Gemma Kennedy with husband Michael and son Dre, after winning a \u00a3535,000 Hits Radio prize(Image: Frank C&C)<\/p>\nGemma Kennedy, 37, was at home with her husband when she received the lifechanging call from presenter Gemma Atkinson<\/p>\n
18:11, 06 Jun 2025Updated 18:13, 06 Jun 2025<\/p>\n
Gemma Kennedy with husband Michael and son Dre, after winning a \u00a3535,000 Hits Radio prize(Image: Frank C&C)<\/p>\n
A mum from Northumberland<\/a> ‘screamed and cried’ when she found out that she had won a massive \u00a3535,000 prize from Hits Radio.<\/a> Gemma Kennedy, 37, received the life-changing call from station presenter Gemma Atkinson<\/a> while at home with her husband Michael, 40, and their 18-month-old son Dre.<\/p>\n Delighted winner Gemma said: “When I heard Gemma on the other end of the phone. I just felt utter disbelief and can\u2019t even remember what I said to her. It just wouldn\u2019t sink in and I had to get her to speak to Michael so that he would believe it was really true. When I put the phone down, I was just running around the house screaming and crying and ringing family and friends, shouting at them to put on the radio as I knew the call would be played out to listeners.”<\/p>\n The couple’s neighbours John and Alison soon arrived after hearing the commotion, with Gemma and Michael running outside to share the news of their good fortune. Gemma continued: “They have been such wonderful friends and neighbours since we moved into our lovely home a few years ago.<\/p>\n “They were there to welcome us home when we brought Dre back from hospital and are always championing and wanting the best for us, it was such an amazing experience for us to be able to share the good news with them as it was sinking in.”<\/p>\n Now, Gemma has spoken about how she will use the money, with her only returning to her call centre job earlier this year after maternity leave. She added: “The first thing we have done is to pay off our mortgage<\/a>, which we could never have believed would be a possibility for many years to come.<\/p>\n “The bank manager couldn\u2019t believe it and said he wished he had had a bottle of Champagne for us to celebrate with. Michael could hardly speak and we were both crying, I\u2019ll remember that moment forever.<\/p>\n “For us, this amazing amount of money will give us the freedom to choose and decide exactly what we want to do as a family. We want to invest for the future and can even think about early retirement, with maybe a little family holiday first to work it all out and process what has been a truly life-changing and emotional experience.”<\/p>\n If you are looking for your chance to win in a Hits Radio competition, you can put yourself in the draw on the website here.<\/a><\/p>\n ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities.<\/p>\n We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we’ll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all!<\/p>\n To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press ‘join community’.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.<\/p>\n If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our privacy notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community<\/a><\/p>\n Join our Court & Crime community<\/a><\/p>\n Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community<\/a><\/p>\n Join our Northumberland community<\/a><\/p>\n Join our County Durham community<\/a><\/p>\n Join our Sunderland community<\/a><\/p>\n Join our NUFC community<\/a><\/p>\n Join our SAFC community<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/3_GettyImages-586113546jpgt.jpg\")
Join our WhatsApp communities<\/p>\n