A couple from Nova Scotia got a huge surprise when they won the Set for Life top prize of $675,000 after vacationing in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In a media release, Atlantic Lottery Corporation says, Anthony Smith and Laura Kennedy from Halifax were one of six couples on an ATV trip.
They would pick up tickets every day at various stores they passed along the way.
“Wherever we stopped to get gas or coffee or food, if they sold lottery, we were buying it,” said Smith.
At their destination each night they would scratch a few, with some saved for when they got back home.
“There have been two tickets in the door of my car and there have been a few times these tickets nearly fell out of the car,” said Kennedy.
The winning ticket was the very last one of the entire pack and they nearly forgot about it until about one month later, when Smith got around to playing it.
“I was in disbelief when I scratched because the lights were off, just the TV was on, so it was not the best lighting,” he said. “I was just in disbelief until I scanned it with my phone.”
After discovering the ticket was a winner, the couple kept a close on eye on it.
“I was panicked. I haven’t slept right, I might have gotten four hours at the most every night for the last four nights,” she said. “I was just nerve-wracking, what if something happens to the ticket?”
Set for Life is a Scratch’N Win ticket that offers two options for top prize – $1,000 a week for 25 years, or a lump sum of $675,000.
Smith and Kennedy plan to pay off their car and mortgage and treat their family to a vacation.
“It’s a big stress reliever. Life in general is getting expensive,” said Smith. “It’s nice to be able to put some money away, pay off some bills and just kind of be comfortable. I’m still going to go to work every day, but we’re working more for ourselves than to pay everyday bills.”
