$1M winner to give half of prize for cancer research
dubai — An Iraqi expat, who won $1 million (Dh3.67 million) in the Dubai Duty Free’s Millennium Millionaire draw, will be donating half of his winnings towards cancer research. He will also use a part of the cash to fund his sister’s cancer treatment.
Kasim Talib, who was presented with his cheque on Tuesday for his ticket that was drawn on December 20, made the decision after seeing his father, mother and sister suffer from cancer.
The 44-year-old, who works as a public relations and human resources manager in Dubai, said winning the lottery was a “blessing”. In addition to funding cancer research programmes in Iraq, Talib will use a part of the cash to educate his four children, he said.
Talib recalled the day he received a call from the duty free about his win. “I was at the airport, heading to Iraq to sell our land so I could fund my sister’s cancer treatment. The officials told me to come right away and take the trophy, but I had to collect the money for my sister’s treatment. I got on the plane and went to Iraq for five days. I ended up borrowing money from my friends for the treatment. Now I can repay them.
“There is a history of cancer in my family. It started with my aunt, then my mother and now recently, my sister. My father died from stomach cancer. I saw how they suffered and that is why I decided to donate money for cancer research,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the first Millennium Millionaire draw of 2019 on Tuesday, Casey Bly, a 41-year-old Dubai-based American national, became a millionaire overnight. “Buying tickets for the Dubai Duty Free promotions has been a regular habit for me and I never lost hope.”