EuroMillions-winning family leave town amazed by what they spend £42m jackpot on

EuroMillions-winning family leave town amazed by what they spend £42m jackpot on A family who scooped just over £42m on the EuroMillions jackpot in 2009 continue to support their small town's 3,200 residents through a variety of projects The mayor of a town in which a family bagged an incredible €50 million (£42.6 million) on the EuroMillions back in 2009 has heaped praise on the lucky winners - with all 3,200 residents still benefitting from the windfall to this day. Their generosity began 17 years ago by settling the debt of a local nursing home and making a €400,000 (£343,000) donation towards the town's 'Housing for All' scheme. The substantial contribution represented 20% of the town's total annual budget at the time. Today, the family from Saint-Michel in Charente, France, still put their wealth to good use. After footing the bill for the local school's cafeteria ever since their jackpot and splashing out €80,000 (£69,000) to upgrade its facilities, all 180 pupils are able to buy a nutritious meal every day for just €1.50 (£1.29). Thankful mayor of Saint-Michel, Fabienne Godichaud, told Lo Ici La Rochelle: "Their wish has now translated into a capital investment, addressing a reality: our schools no longer meet current standards regarding acoustics, air conditioning, or - at the very least- summer comfort." And M. Godichaud also told the AFP: "It's a bit like a fairy tale. The entire community is actually benefiting from this windfall. "These people could have chosen not to share it with their fellow citizens. It's a wonderful lesson in civic responsibility." "It will be a welcome change, because the primary school dining hall, for instance, really needs it," said Sandrine Pelletier at the time, who now works as a maintenance staff member at the school - which she attended herself more than 40 years ago. The modest family, who have opted to stay out of the spotlight and keep their identities private, maintaining the same everyday routines they followed before striking it rich, meanwhile. The generous winners' warm-hearted gesture also prompted an outpouring of praise from locals, who left their heartfelt messages in a guestbook at Saint-Michel's town hall. "I explained to my children the beauty of your gesture and the fact that such generosity is the mark of people with huge hearts," one mum wrote. Since the first EuroMillions draw was held on February 13, 2004, there has been 603 jackpot-winning tickets from nine countries across the UK and the continent. UK players have benefitted the most with 137 winners over the course of 22 years, with France a close second with 133. However, the maximum prize of €250 million (£214 million) as never gone to a UK winner. That sum has only ever gone to players in France and Ireland. A EuroMillions Superdraw will take place on Friday, September 25 and will provide players across the continent with an opportunity to win a cool €130 million (approximately £110 million). The EuroMillions website explains: "Superdraws are special events which only take place a few times a year. They work in the same way as regular draws, apart from one exciting difference - the jackpot is guaranteed to be huge! There doesn’t need to be a long run of rollovers to build up a nine-figure prize; instead, you can mark the date on your calendar to make sure that you take part. "The money for Superdraws comes from a Reserve Fund - a pot which receives a small portion of the prize fund from every draw. The Reserve Fund is primarily used to ensure that the minimum jackpot of €17 million can always be offered, but it is also used to pay for various promotions such as Superdraws. Even if the jackpot is won in the draw on Tuesday 22nd September, it will be bumped all the way up to €130 million for the Superdraw."