Belgian 'Santa' gives half lottery win to the poor



BRUSSELS (AFP) - The Christmas spirit reigns in the Belgium village of Riemst, where a lottery winner is giving half his 7.5 million euro (10.5 million dollar) scoop to the poor, reports said Wednesday.

The Flemish commune's mysterious "Father Christmas," as one newspaper dubbed him, says he intends to share his massive win from the EuroMillions draw on December 12.



Belgian 'Santa' gives half lottery win to the poor
"His first gesture: cheques for 1,000 litres (264 gallons) of fuel for 100 poor families," according to Hubert Cleuren, who heads an aid agency in the village of 16,000, located near the Dutch border.

The mysterious benefactor has requested to remain anonymous, but reports say he is about 50 years old and a father of two.

Guido Coenegrachts, who sold the man his winning ticket, says this "Santa" has faced hard times himself.


Wednesday, December 24th 2008
Hhdod
           


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