B.C.’s longest running hospital lottery offers up a car, vacation packages and cash while improving medical care on the central Island.
The Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation has launched the 2015 Lotto for Life to help build two new surgery suites at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and outfit them with equipment.
The lottery kicked off Monday and is offering a limited run of 5,000 tickets at $100 each.
“It’s our 22nd year and we’re the longest running hospital lottery in the province, so far as we know,” said Feron Walker, foundation spokeswoman.
The foundation’s goal, through its various fundraising programs, is to raise $1.5 million of the $3 million total cost of the project.
This year’s grand prizes are $100,000 cash, a Buick Encore all-wheel-drive SUV, $10,000 cash prize, a vacation for two to Maui and $5,000 cash. There are also dozens of other prizes, such as flat-screen TVs, shopping sprees at Nanaimo’s malls, vacation packages and gift cards to name just a few of the prizes valued at more than $200,000 to be won in this year’s lottery.
“So we’re trying to put in a few more cash prizes and this year is the second year in a row we’re having a single draw at the end instead of an early bird and a final,” Walker said.
The Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation formed in 1977 and started fundraising in 1991 to help counter rising costs for medical care on the central Island.
To date, the foundation has raised more than $40 million for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and its affiliated medical facilities.
Tickest are on sale until midnight March 6. The grand prize draw event will be held March 20, 3 p.m., at Country Club Centre.
Tickets can be purchased at the foundation offices in the NRGH lobby or at 1801 Bowen Rd. weekdays. Tickets can also be purchased at Chocolate Bernard Callebaut Cococo in Country Club Centre, Woodgrove Centre, Nanaimo North Town Centre, RBC branches from Ladysmith to Qualicum, Coast Community Credit Union branches from Chemainus to Qualicum and at the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store in Northridge Village.
Tickets can also be ordered by calling the foundation offices at 250-755-7640.