What a great way to wake up from a nap.
Julie McKenney answered the ringing phone that woke her on Boxing Day to the voice of Don Gowan, chief executive officer of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, telling her she and her husband Kevin had won $250,000 - the top prize in the Cash to Fight Cancer lottery.
The couple couldn't immediately be reached for comment Monday, however Gowan said he was almost as excited to deliver the news as they were to hear it.
"It was such an interesting feeling drawing the winning ticket of $250,000," said Gowan. "We're thrilled to have made a small impact on their lives."
The McKenneys, along with all the lottery ticket buyers, can also take pride in making an impact on people's lives.
The lottery's proceeds enhance healthcare across northern B.C., and this year are earmarked for an ultrasonic gastrovideoscope, which allows doctors to perform endoscopic ultrasounds at the University Hospital of Northern B.C.
"This highly sophisticated piece of equipment will cost close to $400,000, and the Spirit of the North has raised about $275,000 through other events and donations to date," said Gowan.
The machinery can capture images of the entire digestive tract - esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bile duct and rectum. It can also help locate cancerous tumors within and surrounding the digestive tract, as well as minute stones in the gall bladder and bile ducts.
The McKenneys were joined by a handful of other Cash to Fight Cancer lottery winners, including $10,000 winner Anne Kitely, $5,000 combined winners David Doust and Wendy Pelletier,$5,000 winner Edith Martin and the winners of $1,000 each, Jamie Gerrie, John and Sherry Gorbet, Shelby Watson, Dan Stewart, Ryan Penner, Sandra Rossi, Kris Kole, Pam Hoecherl and Brin Nevile and Sonia and Frederick Clarke - all are from Prince George except the Clarkes from Granisle.
PIck up tomorrow's Citizen for more details on the winning ticket holders.
