Vorn Mak, left, and Soeur Nhek won the grand prize of the hospital lottery yesterday morning. The couple bought eight tickets. (Mike Hensen, Sun Media) By JOE MATYAS -- Sun Media
The London Free Press
couple who fled the killing fields of Cambodia more than two decades ago became instant millionaires yesterday when they won the London hospitals Dream Lottery.
Vorn Mak and his wife, Soeur Nhek, said they were speechless when notified by telephone they had won the grand prize.
"We have never won anything before," said their daughter, Claudia Mak, who was with her parents when the phone rang before 8 a.m. yesterday.
After the news sunk in, "we were jumping up and down" with joy and hugging each other, she said.
Vorn Mak has worked as a cleaner at the downtown Hilton Hotel for about 15 years and Soeur Nhek works as a Pennysaver flyer inserter at The London Free Press.
The couple came to London as refugees 21 years ago after fleeing the violence of the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia.
"The war was very bad and we were lucky to get away from it," Vorn Mak said.
The couple won a grand prize that included a $650,000 home in the city's southwest, $204,000 in furniture, appliances and electronic goods and a $55,000 BMW vehicle.
But they said they've chosen the cash option of $1.1 million, the largest cash prize in the history of the charity lottery, which supports London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care and Children's Health Foundation.
The winners said they will take their time deciding what to do with the money before making any life-changing decisions.
"It has been a very good year for the lottery," Dream Lottery co-ordinator Rita Fieder said. "We sold out for the second straight year and we've raised more than $1 million for the hospitals."
Second grand prize winner was John Clymans of Woodstock. His prize gave him the choice of a Doral boat and two Waverunner personal watercrafts, or a $100,000 cash alternative.
Third prize winner was Ruth Fitzsimmons, a Byron resident. She accepted her prize at the dream home location, 1191 Buttonbush Cres., along with her husband of 47 years, Jim.
She opted to take $100,000 cash instead of the prize of two cars and $5,000 cash.
"If she's going to make a habit of winning $100,000, I think I'll stick with her," her husband quipped.
Ruth Fitzsimmons was asleep when her husband got the call.
"At first I didn't believe him," she said
The Fitzsimmons are longtime ticket buyers.
"What a beautiful morning," she said.
A complete list of winners can be found in The Free Press and online at www.londondream.ca on July 5.
All winners will be contacted with an official letter through Canada Post.
The London Free Press
couple who fled the killing fields of Cambodia more than two decades ago became instant millionaires yesterday when they won the London hospitals Dream Lottery.
Vorn Mak and his wife, Soeur Nhek, said they were speechless when notified by telephone they had won the grand prize.
"We have never won anything before," said their daughter, Claudia Mak, who was with her parents when the phone rang before 8 a.m. yesterday.
After the news sunk in, "we were jumping up and down" with joy and hugging each other, she said.
Vorn Mak has worked as a cleaner at the downtown Hilton Hotel for about 15 years and Soeur Nhek works as a Pennysaver flyer inserter at The London Free Press.
The couple came to London as refugees 21 years ago after fleeing the violence of the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia.
"The war was very bad and we were lucky to get away from it," Vorn Mak said.
The couple won a grand prize that included a $650,000 home in the city's southwest, $204,000 in furniture, appliances and electronic goods and a $55,000 BMW vehicle.
But they said they've chosen the cash option of $1.1 million, the largest cash prize in the history of the charity lottery, which supports London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care and Children's Health Foundation.
The winners said they will take their time deciding what to do with the money before making any life-changing decisions.
"It has been a very good year for the lottery," Dream Lottery co-ordinator Rita Fieder said. "We sold out for the second straight year and we've raised more than $1 million for the hospitals."
Second grand prize winner was John Clymans of Woodstock. His prize gave him the choice of a Doral boat and two Waverunner personal watercrafts, or a $100,000 cash alternative.
Third prize winner was Ruth Fitzsimmons, a Byron resident. She accepted her prize at the dream home location, 1191 Buttonbush Cres., along with her husband of 47 years, Jim.
She opted to take $100,000 cash instead of the prize of two cars and $5,000 cash.
"If she's going to make a habit of winning $100,000, I think I'll stick with her," her husband quipped.
Ruth Fitzsimmons was asleep when her husband got the call.
"At first I didn't believe him," she said
The Fitzsimmons are longtime ticket buyers.
"What a beautiful morning," she said.
A complete list of winners can be found in The Free Press and online at www.londondream.ca on July 5.
All winners will be contacted with an official letter through Canada Post.
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