She was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and is in hospital in Hamilton, recovering from surgery last Friday.
Despite being ''overwhelmed with excitement'' about winning the competition, Mrs Cope said she would not be able to use it.
So she has decided to give the prize to the person who entered her in the competition - her daughter-in-law Karen Cope - because they were ''practically best friends'', she said.
Karen said she entered her mother-in-law because she was an active member of the community, with two children and five grandchildren.
''My mother-in-law is perfect in every way.
''Kind, loyal, loving, generous, beautiful and fun, just like Mary Poppins.''
Karen will experience a day of pampering before attending the opening night of Mary Poppins, including a cut and colour at Moha Hairdressing, lunch with three friends and cast members at Larnach Castle, and dinner at Scenic Southern Cross Hotel before the show, all while being chauffeured by a personal driver.
''It would be even better if Dawn were here to share the spoils with [us] this week,'' Karen said.
''Dawn deserves more than a spoonful of sugar for Mother's Day as she is simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.''
