Never has a fortune cookie been more accurate.
Miriam King and her husband Larry had just finished a meal of Chinese food Saturday evening, and had laughed about a fortune cookie message: “Your good luck is in effect as of now.”
Hours later she was the grand prize winner of the Lions Club of Bradford Mammoth Draw and the new owner of a 2018 Silverado pick-up truck.
King, former editor of the Bradford Times and currently a reporter for BradfordToday, was unable to attend this year’s draw. Just back from a family emergency in the U.S., she and husband Larry decided to stay home – and were awakened after midnight by the call from the Lions advising of the win.
“I’m gobsmacked,” said King. “Overwhelmed.”
All 1,700 tickets for the 2018 Lions Club of Bradford Mammoth Draw sold out early.
The annual draw is a fundraiser for the Lions and their community projects, including a pledge for the Field House at the new Henderson Memorial Community Park, support for the Helping Hand Food Bank and Santa Claus Parade, money for minor sports and other causes.
Excitement ran high on Saturday night as ticket holders attended the Bradford Community Centre for an evening that included a beef buffet dinner, social gaming night, live music, and an exciting elimination-style draw for cash and vehicles – with the second prize of a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, and grand prize of a 2018 Silverado pick-up truck.
While ticket holders and their guests enjoyed dinner, placed their bets and danced to the music downstairs, upstairs the focus was on the boards that displayed each ticket number and name. As the numbers were pulled from the drum, the names were eliminated – with $500 in cash going to the first, 100th, 200th, 300th, etc. tickets drawn – until it was down to the last 10.
It was midnight when the final drawing took place. The next five tickets pulled each received $1,000; the next three, $2000 – with the second last ticket, held by Jane Best-Slessor, winning the Camaro, and the final ticket winning the Silverado.
Car Draw Chair, Lion Deb Hrynyk said that there was applause when it was clear that King was the winner. “Everyone was just rooting for you,” she told the winner.
King plans to keep the truck; her husband is currently driving a 2008 Ford Ranger with over 400,000 kilometres on it.
Both the Camaro and the pick-up truck were purchased from Paul Sadlon Motors in Barrie; Sadlon, a long-time Lion, ensures the club gets a good deal for its fundraising draws.
The Lions congratulate all of the winners, and will be contacting them in the near future.
Winning numbers:
1st ticket - $500 – Michael Miceli (ticket #1252)
100th ticket - $500 – Fabio D’Allesandro (ticket #1616)
200th ticket - $500 – Munawar Chudary (ticket #485)
300th - $500 – Heather & Wayne Gerry (#380)
400th - $500 – Gary Geertsema (#1084)
500th - $500 – Gord & Melinda Earley (#1449)
600th - $500 – Justin Robertshaw (#1610)
700th - $500 – Randell & Wise (#1309)
800th - $500 – Barbara Evans (#64)
900th - $500 – Glenn Tink (#993)
1000th - $500 – J & B Kneeshaw (#1674)
1,100th ticket - $500 – Lorie &Elroy Bissonette (#1155)
1,200th - $500 – Steve Ferrera (#545)
1,300th - $500 – Robert Virgilio (#961)
1,400th - $500 – Giuseppe Ingoglia (#892)
1,500th - $500 – John Hodgson (#904)
1,600th - $500 – Joseph Ferragine (#388)
1,691 - $1,000 – Ron Beausaert – (#781)
1,692 - $1,000 – Mose Fanelli – (#745)
1,693 - $1,000 – Keith Russell (#162)
1,694 - $1,000 - Bil Trainor (#1264)
1,695 - $1,000 – Lorie & Elroy Bissonette (#555)
1,696 - $2,000 – Gary O’Brien (#186)
1,697 - $2,000 – Edgerton Johnson (#940)
1,698 - $2,000 – Terri Cino (#488)
1,699 – 2018 Chev Camaro – Jane Best-Slessor (#1273)
1,700 – 2018 Chev Silverado Pick-up truck – Miriam King (#1521)
