CORNWALL, Ontario – Lorna MacLeod is not a big fan of early-morning phone calls – but this one was a little easier to take than most.
MacLeod, of nearby Glen Nevis, collected a cool $1 million as the grand prize winner of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Month Lottery.
Her winning ticket was purchased for $100.
She got the confirmation call two weeks ago, at 7:45 a.m. no less, and when she heard the phone ringing, MacLeod wasn’t altogether pleased.
“I don’t like phone calls that come that early,” she said laughing Monday at a press event where she officially collected her winnings at the cancer society office in Cornwall. “Usually it’s bad news.”
Turns out it was exactly the opposite.
MacLeod has supported the cancer society for years. Her son Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer years ago. He was at Monday’s event.
But sadly MacLeod’s sister Helen Upton succumbed to the disease after being diagnosed 17 years ago.
Her plans for the winnings are modest.
“I don’t have anything to do with the Internet, but my family uses it,” MacLeod said, adding she recently joined the 21st Century by connecting to the net at her home.
And, for good measure, she added call display to her home phone.
“I’m 83,” she said. “What do I need all that money for at this point?”
Actually, she’s in the market for a car.
“Mine is 10 years old,” she chuckled.
Nearly every member of her family showed up Monday for the official presentation. MacLeod has three children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
