A Sleepless Night and a $1 Million LOTTO 6/49 Win!

For most people, being awake at 2:30 AM means counting sheep. For Rhonda Starkell it meant counting the zeroes of her $1 million winner on the September 2 LOTTO 6/49 Guaranteed Prize Draw.

Unable to sleep in the middle of the night, Starkell decided to pass the time by checking her lottery tickets online. What she found immediately turned a sleepless night into an unforgettable night.

“I couldn't sleep,” she began. “I went onto WCLC’s website and was checking my numbers and then woke up my partner and said, ‘I think I just won the lottery!’”

“I tried to get back to sleep but couldn't,” she continued. “I was in complete shock.”

Starkell’s partner's reaction was considerably more relaxed: “My partner woke up, checked my ticket and said, ‘I think you did win,’ and then went back to bed.”

As if the moment wasn't memorable enough, Starkell says the day she discovered her prize carries special meaning: “The day I checked my ticket was also my late father's and grandson's birthdays!”

While she's still processing the life-changing win, Starkell already has a list of priorities for the prize money.

“Pay off the mortgage, get a new vehicle, invest the money, and maybe take a trip to Holland (Netherlands) and Greece,” she said.

Starkell purchased her $1 million Guaranteed prize-winning ticket from the Dolar Drug Mart, located at 13211 132 Street NW in Edmonton. The winning selection was: 34907137-01.

Download the full release and winner's photo below.