Winner ran across the street in pyjamas to tell family members the good news; ‘I want to enjoy the experiences that life has to offer’
NEWS RELEASE
OLG
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TORONTO – Saying “yes” to Encore paid off for Leanne Beckford of Bradford. Beckford matched the last six of seven Encore numbers in exact order in the July 7, 2020, Lotto Max draw to win $100,000!
Beckford, a 52-year mother and grandmother, discovered her win at home one morning when she used the OLG Lottery App to scan her ticket.
“I saw the Big Winner message, and the app played a song,” she smiled, while at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up her cheque. “I thought, oh my gosh! I ran across the street to my mom’s house where my kids were spending the night to tell them the good news – I hoped the neighbours wouldn’t see me running across the road in my pyjamas,” she laughed.
The health-care worker is currently considering using her winnings to pay for laser eye surgery. She also plans to pay some bills.
“One thing I learned when my husband passed away is that I can’t take it with me,” she shared. “I want to enjoy the experiences that life has to offer.”
“It’s surreal. It’s something you always dream about but never expect to happen. It puts into perspective that winning really does happen, and it’s happened to me,” she concluded.
The OLG Prize Centre in Toronto is now accepting in-person prize claim appointments for winning-ticket holders of $10,000 or more. Appointments for prizes of this value will be granted if requested, however, prizes up to $49,999.90 do not have to be claimed in-person and customers are encouraged to continue to mail in these claims when possible.
To best protect customers and staff, OLG has put in place appropriate health and safety protocols in accordance with guidelines from public health officials, which include physical distancing measures, the mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the pre-screening of visitors before granting entry. Future announcements will be made as to when OLG will open appointments to anyone wishing to claim their prize in-person at the Prize Centre.
Encore offers 22 ways to win and can be played in conjunction with most lottery games for an extra $1. There is an Encore draw every day.
The winning ticket was purchased at Mac’s on Holland Street in Bradford.
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