FOR those who dream about winning the lottery, the dream could be closer than you think.

St David’s Hospice Care, a local charity offering at-home care for those suffering life-threatening illnesses, runs a weekly lottery with a top prize of £1,500.

The charity has run the lottery for almost 20 years, and they are now pushing to get up to 10,000 members by the time the anniversary of the first comes around in February next year.

They currently have around 8,500 players, who put in £1 a week for their number to go in automatically as long as they subscribe.

From each £1, 70p goes directly to the hospice while the remainder makes up the prize fund.

But organisers say this number of players has dipped due to the recession, when people had to cut back on their outgoings, and from older members dying.

They are urging others who may “care to play” to donate to the hospice, while putting themselves in with a chance of winning one of 24 prizes every week.

Aside from the grand prize of £1,500, there is a second prize of £500, third prize of £250, fourth prize of £50 and 20 extra prizes of £10.

Your odds of winning the National Lottery jackpot are one in around 14 million, but the odds are much shorter with the St David’s draw – and you are guaranteed to contribute to a local good cause.

Ian Edwards, from Cwmbran, plays the lottery each week. He said: “I play St David’s Hospice Care lottery to support a great local charity. Knowing my contribution helps local people is THE prize. It's a bonus if I also win!

To join the lottery, phone 01633 851051 or visit www.stdavidshospicecare.org