When Billie Collinge of Nanaimo saw the email telling her she had won the $142,900 jackpot for Rotary Clubs of 91原创 Mega 50-50 draw on Aug. 19, she didn鈥檛 take it seriously at first.

鈥淚鈥檇 forgotten about it,鈥� she told the 91原创 Advance Times. She wondered if it was some kind of a scam.

Then she spoke with the club contact by phone.

鈥淗e convinced me he was serious, and it was real,鈥� Collinge recalled.

鈥淚 was very surprised. I鈥檓 78, and I鈥檝e never won anything big.鈥�

After that, she had to convince her husband, Len.

鈥淗e didn鈥檛 believe it,鈥� she laughed.

Collinge had bought her ticket online after reading the money raised would be going to support several charities.

鈥淩otary is a good club and they do a lot of good things,鈥� Collinge commented.

She said the winnings will help the couple retire some debts, and 鈥渓ook after some medical needs not covered by insurance.鈥�

Asked if they might go away on a trip, she said, 鈥渨e鈥檒l see. We haven鈥檛 gone anywhere since COVID.鈥�

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Jeff Morfitt, chairperson of the 91原创 Rotary 50/50 Mega Draw Committee, said it was the largest draw ever, at $285,800.

鈥淭he winner of half of it is very excited, as you鈥檇 expect, but more important to me is that we鈥檝e earned over $113,000 [after costs] that will be used by our four 91原创 Rotary Clubs to fund our service projects, including financial support for many 91原创 community service organizations,鈥� Morfitt said.

鈥淭hey include really important youth-at-risk programs like Foundry 91原创 and Boys and Girls Club. We also support Meals on Wheels, 91原创 Hospice, Starfish Pack Program, 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation, and many others.鈥�

Morfitt issued a 鈥渂ig thanks鈥� to the draw sponsor, B&B Contracting.

He estimated Rotary members in 91原创 put in over 1,400 volunteer hours into making the draw a success.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to an even bigger draw next year!鈥� Morfitt enthused.

READ MORE: VIDEO: 91原创 couple wins $125,000 jackpot in local Rotary 50/50