Dan Thurlow, left, opted for the cash prize of nearly $9,000 instead of the Cree Lake Lodge fishing package as the grand prize in the Rotary Club of Lloydminster’s Dream Vacation raffle. Geoff Lee Meridian Source Photos
It pays to be a supporter of the Rotary Club of Lloydminster.
Dan Thurlow and Rhonda Lafond are among 12 lucky people who hit the jackpot buying a $100 Dream Vacation lottery ticket to raise funds for Rotary.
They both bought their winning tickets from Rotarian Daryl Benson.
Thurlow, who won the grand prize Cree Lake Lodge fishing package and Lafond, who won the Vancouver four-night round trip, opted to take the cash option.
A cheque for approximately $9,000 was presented to Thurlow and one for about $1,900 to Lefond by Rotary president, Anita Schmidt, at Monday’s meeting.
“The Dream Vacation was great. It didn’t sell out, but we’re happy with the sales for our fundraiser,” said Schmidt.
The draw was made live during Rotary’s Lobsterfest funding dinner earlier this month when Thurlow’s ticket was declared the winner.
“I was pretty excited,” said Thurlow as a first-time ticket buyer.
He says he likes to fish, but with the prize money, he can fish or go anywhere instead of the fly-in prize vacation.
Thurlow says he will probably use the money to take a trip, with the destination to be worked out with his family.
“We’ll figure it out,” he said.
Lafond got a text during Lobersfest notifying her about her windfall.
“I was pretty excited,” she said with the cash a no-brainer for her instead of the four-day trip to Vancouver.
“I didn’t know who to take. I thought it would be good to put some stuff into my house instead,” she said.
Other vacation winners were Dwayne Hippe, West Coast Classic Rocky Mountaineer Tour; Karen Hilts, Mayan Riviera seven-night vacation, and Mitch Gregory, New Orleans four-night trip.
Katie Thackeray won the Nashville four-night trip while Bob Nielsen won the New York City four-night package with Mark Acorn snagging a Niagara Falls four-night trip.
Kelsey Mercer-Gatzke, Rebecca Willetts, Cindy Womacks and Garry Hirtle each won $1,000 gift certificates.
