Have you purchased your Lotto for Life ticket in time for the early bird cut-off date of March 1? Only 5,000 tickets are available and more than 60 per cent are already sold. Lotto for Life benefits the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and every dollar stays local. This year, all proceeds will be directed towards the NRGH emergency department expansion, set to open in 2012. The expansion will nearly triple the size of the department, offer natural light through courtyards, and provide separate emergency and psychiatric services under one roof. This will be a flagship in emergency medicine across North America and you can help. A $100 ticket gives purchasers a chance to win one of more than 70 incredible prizes, including a $10,000 WestJet credit to select your own destination, cash prizes, and two vehicles. The Grand Prize of $100,000 will be drawn on April 16, but Early Bird Draw ticket cut-off is March 1 with the early bird draw on March 11. This is the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation’s 18th annual lottery, the longest running hospital lottery in B.C. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 250-755-7640 or go to www.nanaimohospitalfoundation.com/lotto for a list of ticket outlets, prizes, and draw dates.