Lottery winner to ex-husband: it sucks to be you

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This article was published 23/03/2010 (5999 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — A part-time supermarket cashier and occasional lottery-ticket buyer choked back tears Monday as she pondered how her bank balance had gone from under $100 to more than $20 million with the luck of the draw.

An overwhelmed Bonnie Preece, 49, of London, Ont., flanked by her husband, William Rollings, and parents and sisters, collected half of Saturday’s Lotto 6/49 jackpot.

"For me, I can’t grasp this kind of money," she said struggling for words.

"My savings account was $80.17; I think it’s going to be a little bit more than that now."

Preece was one of two winning ticket holders for Saturday’s $42.2-million draw. The other was sold in Edmonton but it was not immediately known who bought it.

Although she seldom played the lottery — she couldn’t spare the $2 ticket price — she decided to plunk down two toonies at the store across from the No Frills, where she’s been a cashier for the past five years, given the size of the jackpot.

Preece said she was forced to declare bankruptcy a few years ago after her first marriage ended. She couldn’t even get a credit card.

Asked if she had a message for her ex, she said simply: "Sucks to be you."

It’s been a struggle to earn every dollar, she said.

No Frills has agreed to keep her on its payroll until she decides whether she will be returning to work, a job that paid $12.30 an hour.

 

— The Canadian Press