Double celebration for Longford couple after winning cash prize on Today FM

A lovely Longford town couple are enjoying a wonderful double celebration this week.

An absolutely thrilled Anthony Heavey won an incredible €105,000 on the Today FM Cash Machine last Friday afternoon.
And live on air, he revealed to show presenter Emma Nolan how his partner, Kathleen Galvin, just 24 hours earlier, also received ‘good news’.

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Anthony, who is well known locally through his on stage involvement with Backstage Theatre Group and St Mel's Musical Society, excitedly told Emma, “My partner had good news yesterday. She went through breast cancer a while ago and she went for another checkup and she's fine. So that's what we're sort of celebrating about.”

Emma replied, “Anthony, that's absolutely beautiful news. I don't think your weekend could possibly get any better after receiving news like this about your gorgeous partner.”

Kathleen was alongside Anthony when he received the Cash Machine call and presenter Emma asked her about the relief of the last 24 hours. “Oh my God, it couldn't have come at a better time. I can’t believe it,” Kathleen replied.

Today FM’s Cash Machine is a competition where the presenters give the cash machine amount, and the listener makes a note of that number and gets the entry in by texting WIN to 57557 or via the form on the website.

For Anthony, it was an ordinary entry with unexpected benefits.

And coupled with the news of Kathleen's continuing improved health it made his triumph even sweeter.

Anthony explained, “We don’t always do it (the Cash Machine). But if the money is fairly substantial we do it whenever we have credit in our phones, we’d send a text. I sent it in last Wednesday; I sent two because you get four for the price of two. I just thought why not just to see if we’d win it. You’d never think that you’re actually going to get called. We just do it now and again. Thankfully, it paid off for us. It was a nice surprise. Kathleen said it couldn’t come at a better time.”

Kathleen, who has been in remission for breast cancer since 2022, had been having recent blood tests and a mammogram prior to the win.

When called to the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore for the test results, everything came back normal. Then the couple received the additional good fortune of the €105,000 win.

For Anthony, who has been suffering from arthritis, winning the money has been a weight lifted since ESB bills are substantial. “It has been a great relief.”

Although they intended to celebrate after the win, plans for Saturday had to be postponed since Anthony contracted Covid.
He explained, “We plan on going away for a few days and we’re off to see the cousins in America in three weeks’ time.”

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Although the money has improved the couple’s lives by helping them with bills, Kathleen wants to give something back after all the care and treatment she has received.

She plans on giving some money to the oncology department in Tullamore, as well as Breast Cancer Research Ireland.

Kathleen said, “I was so well looked after. I’m still having follow-up appointments still, even after receiving the all clear in 2022 for a yearly mammogram. I had a check on my heart three weeks ago, that seems okay. We’d like to thank St Luke’s for their radiation and the hospital in Dublin, and Tullamore oncology. We’re going to donate to them and to Breast Cancer Ireland. It’s a small token of our appreciation.”