A single mother drowning in debt was thrown a vital lifeline by a millionaire couple.
Michelle previously featured on Channel 5’s hit show Rich House, Poor House with her two children, Toby, who is autistic and non-verbal, and daughter Nellie, as well as her mother-in-law Sue.
They share a three-bedroom, semi-detached property in Worcester. Michelle survives on carer’s allowance while Sue works in a shoe shop, leaving them with merely £147 weekly after bills.
Michelle revealed her ambition of establishing a foundation for children with special needs like her son. She hoped to name it the Nigel Prosser Foundation in memory of Sue’s late partner, who passed away following a cancer battle.
Yet with a weekly budget of £147 and mounting debt, her lifelong ambition has been pushed aside as she battles to remain financially stable.
View 3 ImagesThe single mum was moved to tears (Image: Channel 5)
Experiencing how the wealthiest 1% live, Michelle and her family exchanged homes with property magnates Rick and Lorraine Gannon, who reside in a £1.5 million mansion, featuring a gym and snooker room, alongside their two children.
Departing their six-bedroom mansion proved more difficult as it had been specially modified for son Ben, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, preventing him from walking and limiting his arm movement.
Confronted with surviving on a tight budget, and in accommodation unsuited to his requirements, Ben admitted: “I’m going to be totally honest with you, we’re going to struggle. We do live an expensive lifestyle.”
The challenges commenced when Rick and Lorraine needed to assist Ben from his powered wheelchair into a standard model as he couldn’t pass through the doorway.
Meanwhile, while the Gannons attempted to adjust to their temporary circumstances, Michelle and Sue settled comfortably into their week-long arrangement.
They received a substantial weekly allowance of £2,000 and could even indulge the children with special outings – including a visit to the safari park.
View 3 ImagesMichelle and her family swapped homes with millionaire couple Rick and Lorraine (Image: Channel 5)
Having an autistic, non-verbal child herself, Michelle felt confident that Rick and Lorraine “knew what we’re going through”.
Throughout the house exchange, both Michelle and Rick drew inspiration from each other’s charitable endeavours. Rick remained determined to assist Michelle in eliminating her financial burden.
When the swap concluded, Michelle became emotional as Rick and Lorraine disclosed their intention to “supercharge” The Nigel Prosser Foundation – offering support from both legal and social media perspectives.
The revelations continued as Rick additionally pledged to settle Michelle’s various debts, hoping it would alleviate the “pressure” weighing on the family.
Overcome with gratitude, Michelle vowed she would “work my socks off” to ensure the foundation’s success.
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An emotional Michelle responded: “Thank you. I’m so gobsmacked. You have no idea how big this is for us and how it can change our lives. And we’re going to work our socks off. I’m not afraid of hard work.”
You can stream Rich House, Poor House on 5