She is the first winner of the inaugural Straits Times 12 Days of Christmas Surprises, but she won't be keeping the coveted prize of an 11.6 inch MacBook Air.
Instead Madam Loh Wai Yong, 65, will give the laptop to her 16-year-old nephew Joseph Lu - so as to encourage him to further his studies at a polytechnic.
The contest is part of The Straits Times Appreciates Readers (Star) series to reach out to our readers and the community.
Madam Loh, who takes care of infants at a childcare centre, said Joseph had just finished his O-levels and was considering forgoing his tertiary studies to join the workforce.
The eldest child with two younger sisters, Joseph had wanted to supplement his family's income as his pastor father is the sole breadwinner, Madam Loh explained.
Hoping to convince him to further his studies, she had initially promised to buy him a laptop, but told ST in an e-mail entry that she is now unable to do so.
The reason: She will be jobless in a couple of months' time as she is getting on in years.
Still, she wrote, she hopes her "poor young nephew (could be) the proud owner of a laptop" and would "further his studies in the polytechnic in 2014".
For her moving entry, Madam Loh trumped nearly 1,000 other contestants to win the prize, courtesy of our presenting partner Standard Chartered.
The daily giveaway will reward 11 more readers in the 12-day lead-up to Christmas until Dec 24, and will remain open until noon on Dec 23.
Other prizes to be won include a TV set, a smartphone and assorted gadgets and appliances worth $6,000 in total.
To take part, just tell us in not more than 40 words: "Why my loved one or I deserve to get a gift from The Straits Times".
E-mail your entry to stxmas@sph.com.sg and include your full name, NRIC number and cellphone number.
For more contest details and to read other readers' entries, go to www.straitstimes.com/st-christmas-2013
