At the age of 5, she helped the victims in Haiti, and now fate answered her with a win of 50 million
An 18-year-old woman who spent her childhood savings to help earthquake victims has won a C$48 million ($35.8 million) lottery prize.
Juliette Lamour, who purchased her first lottery ticket after her grandfather suggested it would be a good way to celebrate turning 18, was taken aback when she discovered she had won.
She had called her father, unsure of which ticket to purchase, and he advised her to purchase a QuickPick.
It could all be karma for Ms Lamour — and her sister, Sophie — after they emptied their piggy banks as children to send money to Haitian earthquake victims in 2010.
However, the Algoma University student wishes to continue doing good and expressed gratitude for the funds, which will allow her to complete her medical studies debt-free.
‘I just turned 18 and my grandfather suggested I buy a lottery ticket for fun,’ the teen told Global News.
‘When I went to the store, I wasn’t sure what to ask for because I had never purchased a lottery ticket before, so I called my father, who told me to buy a LOTTO 6-49 Quick Pick.
‘I can’t believe I won the Gold Ball jackpot on my first lottery ticket!’
She claimed she had forgotten she had purchased the ticket, but checked the app after colleagues informed her that the winning numbers were purchased in Sault Ste. Marie.
When her phone flashed ‘Big Winner,’ she knew her life had been transformed.
‘In disbelief, my colleague fell to his knees. He was yelling, and everyone else was yelling, ‘I won C$48 million!’
The 18-year-first old’s call was to her mother, who initially did not believe she had won the money.
Ms Lamour says she will carefully invest the money with the help of her father, her financial adviser, but that her plans for the near future haven’t changed.
Given that the sisters saved an impressive C$61.38 to donate to the Canadian Red Cross when Ms Lamour was only five, it appears unlikely that she will face financial difficulties as a result of her winnings.
‘I need to think about it,’ the conscientious adolescent said after her victory was announced on February 3.
‘We will definitely keep friends and family in mind. And because I’m still a university student, I’m going to finish my biology report tonight.’
She plans to practice medicine in northern Ontario after finishing her studies, before traveling the world with her family.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation confirmed that, while other 18-year-old winners have occurred, no one has ever won as much as Juliette.
