Branch 62 First Vice President Les Jones unveils the card selected at Catch the Ace draw, July 18, 2024. Branch 62 First Vice President Les Jones unveils the card selected at Catch the Ace draw, July 18, 2024.
Sarnia

Popular Sarnia Legion fundraiser now at over $210K

It's sure to be life-changing money for the lucky winner.

The Sarnia Legion Branch 62's popular Catch the Ace lottery is into week 30 with the chance of taking home over $210,000.

After someone's name is drawn, they can choose a remaining numbered envelope with the goal of selecting the ace of spades.

That progressive prize is worth 30 per cent of every ticket sold over the first 29 weeks.

Even if they miss out on the ace, there's still a prize amounting to 20 per cent of weekly ticket sales, which is expected to surpass last week's total of nearly $17,000.

President Ron Realesmith said it's truly a community-led initiative.

"Because we have a provincial licence, we could have opened it up and had the entire province play online," said Realesmith. "But, we really wanted to make sure that we focus on the local people. The actual physical travelling to the building makes it so that the people that predominantly play are from Lambton County. That was really important for us."

Realesmith said to accommodate the high demand, they've moved ticket sales to the upstairs area to keep the lines moving quickly.

"I cannot say again how blown away I am by the community as a whole that's come out and supported our local Legion," he said. "It just goes to show you that people support their local community. I'm quite humbled by it."

Tickets for this week's draw go on sale at noon on Thursday, April 10, and can be purchased for $5 each at the Legion at 286 Front St. N.

The draws will be done that evening, live in person, at 7:45 p.m.

The 2024 fundraiser generated a total of $654,910 over 46 weeks.

Paul Mantha took home the grand prize of $196,473 after choosing the ace of spades.

About $327,455 was earmarked for the Sarnia Legion Lottery Fund, which went toward assisting local charities.

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