Leamington woman wins London hospital lottery
A Leamington woman has a highdollar choice to make after she won big in the Dream Lottery meant to benefit London-area hospitals.
As the grand-prize winner announced on Thursday morning, Mary Defrancisco of Leamington can choose either a $1-million cash prize, a fully-furnished home in southwest London valued at $1.8 million or a fully-furnished condo in downtown London with a $500,000 money prize.
A release by the Dream Lottery described Defrancisco as “initially in disbelief” when she was contacted about the win. Once she realized the call was real, Defrancisco declared it the “news of a lifetime.”
The Dream Lottery is held regularly with proceeds benefiting the London Health Sciences Centre, the Children’s Hospital at LHSC, and St. Joseph’s Health Care London.
The most recent draw raised $1 million, and the lottery has raised a total of $34.6 million for London hospitals since 1996. Defrancisco told Dream Lottery staff that members of her family have been under the care of the London Health Sciences Centre and she has bought Dream Lottery tickets before to support the hospitals.
Along with Defrancisco’s big win, Dream Lottery staff announced the winner of the lottery’s 50/50 draw: Heather Whyte of Breslau, who will receive $439,927.50.
Dream Lottery tickets are sold via www.dreamitwinit.ca. Ticket prices start at two for $50.