ONE fortunate customer of Eden Motor Group is £10,000 better off after winning the top prize at a VIP event.

The invitation-only Eden VIP Event is popular with car buyers and sees one customer chosen at random to receive £10,000 alongside their new car.

This year, Caroline Sofroniou, from Bicester, was presented with the cheque by Sam Michael, operations director at Eden Motor Group, and Bicester sales manager Christine Denison.

Sam said: “All I can say is that I was overjoyed to hand over a cheque to such a deserved loyal customer and I hope that the money will be truly life-changing to her and her family.”

Caroline had no idea she was a winner until she turned up at Eden Bicester under the impression she was just completing extra paperwork for her new Volkswagen Golf.

Caroline, whose seven-year-old son, Jayden Sean, is awaiting a heart transplant has been an active fundraiser for many charities – including Sarah’s Hampers for Hearts, which supports many children with similar heart conditions.

She hopes to use this money to help more charities and give Jayden-Sean a wonderful Christmas.

Eden, which is among the UK’s biggest dealer groups, currently has 31 sites representing Vauxhall, Hyundai, Mazda, Fiat, MG, Peugeot and Suzuki, as well as an approved used network, commercial vehicles, and a prestige car showroom in Kent.

Chief executive Graham Potts has been an advocate of giving back to the areas his showrooms serve. The £10,000 giveaway annually is one of many community-led initiatives.

The company also supports many charities, including Sophie’s Journey, Macmillan Cancer and Ben, a charity dedicated to supporting members of the automotive industry.

The company offers benefits such as an Eden Perk Box and birthdays off, as well as a Christmas turkey and Easter egg every year. The business is always closed on Sundays to allow staff time with their families.