Two Drumheller residents got a huge surprise recently. Jerry Costache and Linda Paller were winners in the 2012 Hospital Lottery.
Costache has a difficult decision to make. He was given the choice between taking home a 2012 Ford Explorer or a 2012 Ford Mustang, valued at $30,028 retail price. When contacted, Costache had yet to decide which he would be driving home.
“I’ve never won anything before,” said Costache in disbelief.
Paller won $1,000 cash in the lottery.
Neither won the grand prize, a 2,800 square foot home valued at $654,554. That prize went to Floyd Anderson of Sylvan Lake.
The lottery is a project of the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation. This year, the money raised will go towards purchasing pulmonary equipment for the Respiratory Department.
“The Respiratory Department really supports the hospital. Whenever a patient needs respiratory assistance the rely on the Respiratory Department. We will be able to purchase equipment that will be utilized in the emergency, continuing care, and even in the normal patient care rooms. It’s a cause that effects thousands of central Albertans each year,” said Shannon Van Parys, with Alberta Health Services.
Though the final number has yet to be calculated, the 2012 lottery is exceeding expectations.
“It’s an exciting year for us. It was our first sell out ever and first early bird sell out. We don’t have a final number yet, but we estimate we raised over $620,000,” said Van Parys. “We’ll be able to purchase even more equipment than we had initially thought.”
