When Linda Fenton checked her Lotto 6/49 ticket on a peaceful Sunday early morning, she could not think her eyes. She and 3 of her long time good friends from Essex, Ont., had actually simply won $88,907 in theDec 21, 2024 draw– and one buddy had the best means to explain the minute.
“It’s kind of like finding out you’re pregnant!” claimed Rhonda Bonneau, as she and her team checked out the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to grab their payouts.
“You know you’re having a baby, but it doesn’t feel real until you’re holding it.”
For Fenton, Bonneau, Mary Ann Reaume and Sandra Brush, the win included shock, exhilaration, and concepts for exactly how they’ll utilize their share of the reward, which concerns approximately $22K.
“I’m going on a trip to Cuba in March, and I will save the rest,” claimedBrush “Oh! And I’ll buy a bunch of Lindor chocolates.”
For Bonneau, she intends to aid her boy with his upcoming wedding event, while likewise appreciating a journey to Europe.
Reaume wishes to intend a journey to Ireland to commemorate her 50th wedding event anniversary. As for Fenton, she wishes to “pay some bills and invest the rest. I don’t have any big plans yet, but I’ll treat myself down the line.”
The tight-knit group of friends have been playing the lottery together for five years. Their tradition began when they were coworkers at a local meat market and continued even after Reaume retired.
Over the years, their friendship grew stronger, while lottery tradition has also now paid off in a big way.
“It’s shocking, but we’re so grateful,” said Bonneau.
The lucky moment came when Fenton opened the OLG app and scanned their ticket.
“It was a Sunday morning when I scanned our ticket on the OLG app and discovered we’d won,” she said.
In shock and with shaky hands, Fenton quickly began calling everyone to share the good news. Each call was met with the same reaction: complete disbelief and excitement.
“I couldn’t believe what Linda was telling me! I was so surprised,” said Reaume.
“I was stunned,” added Brush. “I doubted what Linda was telling me and said, ‘Are you kidding me? Don’t play with me.”
Then, the four friends decided to share the news with their loved ones. Their families were just as thrilled.
“I said, ‘Hold on! Let me put you on speakerphone so my husband can hear this,’” said Bonneau. “I thought, ‘There’s no way this is real,’ I was shaking too! This was the best news I’d heard in a while.”
But more than the prize itself, it’s the shared experience that means the most to these four friends.
“The best part is that we’re going through this journey together. I couldn’t imagine winning this prize with anyone else,” said Brush. “It’s just beautiful and has brought so much joy!”
The group says the experience has been unforgettable — and it might not be their last big win.
“This has been a wonderful experience,” said Bonneau. “This is something the girls and I will talk about for years! We can’t wait to come back and collect a $50 million jackpot.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Circle K on Talbot Street North in Essex. The group matched five out of six numbers — 6, 9, 21, 24, 41, 48 — and the bonus number 31, helping them secure the second largest prize.
The Lotto 6/49 Classic Jackpot draw is offered every Wednesday and Saturday, and is made up of six numbers drawn from a range of 1 to 49. If a ticket sold for the draw matches all six numbers, then that ticket wins the Classic Jackpot $5 million prize.
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