Winnipeg women win LOTTO 6/49

WINNIPEG, March 26 /CNW/ - When Angela Shesterniak's telephone rang in the middle of the night on Wednesday, her thoughts immediately went to bad news. "Don't worry, everything's okay," Angela's mother, Kathleen Shesterniak, immediately told her. "This is GOOD news."

Kathleen had just discovered that she and Angela had won the LOTTO 6/49 jackpot! The mother and daughter had matched all six of the numbers drawn on March 24 to win $3,701,103!

Kathleen and Angela have been playing the same set of lottery numbers for about ten years. The numbers have no particular significance, Angela says - they just came into her head one morning and stuck.

On Monday, March 22, Kathleen picked up the pair's usual lottery tickets while grocery shopping at Marketplace on Henderson Highway. She entered the numbers into both Wednesday and Saturday's LOTTO 6/49 draws.

On Wednesday night, after midnight, Kathleen turned on her TV to see the winning numbers. "I don't usually do that," she said. "I don't know why, but something made me want to find out right away." She recognized the winning numbers immediately. "I called to my husband 'We won! We won!'" Kathleen laughed. "I was so excited! And then of course I had to call Angie."

After her mother's late night call, Angela didn't get much sleep. "I double checked the numbers on my computer. I even watched the tape of the actual draw so that I could see each of those little balls drop!" Angie smiled.

The winners plan to take some time and decide what to do with their new-found fortune. "Family and friends are very important to us. We have a very strong family and we want them to be a part of this," Angela said, before adding with a laugh, "And, of course, I have lots of dreams!"

All lottery revenue in Manitoba is directed to the Province of Manitoba to support priority social programs and local community activities.

For further information: Andrea Marantz, [phone]