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DATE: May 12, 2008
CONTACT: Karie Lowe (785) 296-5744, karie.lowe@kslottery.net

Abilene Mom Receives $5,000 “Mother’s Day Wish”

TOPEKA, KAN. – Last Wednesday, Ann Cairns decided to spend her last few dollars on her own Mother’s Day gift. The Abilene resident, who purchased 10 $1 Mother’s Day Wishes instant scratch tickets, couldn’t believe her luck when she revealed a $5,000 top prize on one.

“I just thought I’d buy my own Mother’s Day gift,” said Cairns. “I lost my daughter almost eight years ago in a terrible car accident. One of my sons is serving our country in Afghanistan and my other son likes to send text messages.”

After making her purchase, Cairns returned home where she cooked dinner and watched television before scratching her tickets.

“I was going to save them for Mother’s Day,” said Cairns. “But I changed my mind. My husband Dean went to town to get cat food, so I scratched my tickets. When I realized I’d won $5,000, I got in my car and headed for the convenience store where I bought my tickets.”

While on the way to the store, Cairns saw her husband Dean at a stop sign and flagged him down so she could show him her winning ticket.

“I told him I was headed to the store because I thought I’d won $5,000,” said Cairns. “He didn’t believe me at first. But once I arrived at the store, they checked my ticket and verified I’d won.”

Cairns, who works at the convenience store where she purchased her tickets, gave the store clerk Vicky $100 for selling her a winning ticket.

“I gave her $100 and wished her a Happy Mother’s Day,” said Cairns.

The winning ticket was purchased at West Stop, located at 420 N. Buckeye in Abilene.