Canadian lottery winner turns heartbreak into hope after cancer loss
After facing unimaginable loss, a Canadian lottery winner is channelling his grief into helping others battle cancer.
John Judd is a 77-year-old retiree who lives in Toronto, Ont. For the past 40 years, he’s been trying his luck in the lottery without any big wins. However, his luck eventually turned.
While at a store one day, he made a spontaneous decision to buy an Instant 3X Fortune ticket for $5.
“I don’t normally play this game,” he admitted. “I just randomly picked it one day.”
After playing his ticket, he decided to check the results and was shocked — he had won the game’s top prize worth $100,000.
John Judd of Toronto, Ont. (OLG)
“I checked my ticket on the machine at the store and realized I won $100,000,” he shared. “I was so excited and happy!”
While at the OLG Prize Centre in downtown Toronto to pick up his windfall, Judd said he has plans to donate part of his winnings to cancer research, a cause that’s especially close to his heart.
“My parents and brother passed away from cancer, so it’s very personal to me,” he said.
When asked how it feels to be $100,000 richer, Judd responded, “Winning is a great feeling. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
The winning ticket was purchased at Tiger Studio & Variety on Danforth Avenue in Toronto.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.