Many lottery winners try to stay out of the limelight to avoid being hassled for handouts. But this couple, who won a record-breaking £161 million (US$267 million) in the Euromillions lottery, are doing quite the opposite.

The Weirs, who won £161 million (US$267 million) in the Euromillions lottery, are giving back publicly. Photo: Rex.

Instead of trying to conceal their wealth, they are publicly redistributing it - and getting good feedback for their unselfish donations.

Euromillions winner Chris Weir, who picked up the win in 2011 along with husband Colin, is donating £750,000 (US$1.2 million to a cancer organisation, and the same amount to a youth academy.

The Herald Scotland reported Chris Weir has pledged £250,000 a year for the next three years after becoming Breast Cancer Care Scotland's first breast health awareness ambassador.

Mrs Weir, a retired psychiatric nurse, has been recruited for her experience in working with people suffering mental illness.

Colin Weir also was involved in establishing the Thistle Weir Youth Academy. Photo: Evening Times.

Mrs Weir said: "In my career, I saw at first-hand the challenges many people are confronted by when accessing and dealing with information that the rest of us take for granted."

She added: "Breast cancer doesn't discriminate. When Breast Cancer Care Scotland talked to me about the low survival rates here and I realised that this situation was even worse for hard-to-reach groups, I immediately agreed to support their campaign."

The Weirs have also funded several athletic improvement projects, helped a promising young Scottish tennis player get professional training and paid for the refurbishment of a historic paddle steamer.