Thu, June 26, 2008
By JOE MATYAS, SUN MEDIA
The London Free Press (Ontario, Canada)
A couple who fled the killing fields of Cambodia more than two decades ago became instant millionaires today when they won the London hospitals Dream Lottery.
Vorn Mak and his wife Soeur Nhek said they were speechless when notified by telephone that they had won the $1.3 million grand prize. After the news sunk in, “we’re 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 about 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,” Von Mak said.
The couple won a grand prize that included a $650,000 Wasko home in the Buttonbush subdivision near Colonel Talbot and Southdale roads, $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 that supports the London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care and Children’s Health Foundation.
The winners said they were going to take their time to decide what to do with the money before they make any life-changing decisions.
Rita Fieder, Dream Lottery coordinator said “it has been a very good year for the lottery. We’ve raised more than $1 million for the hospitals.”
For the latest local coverage, read The London Free Press on the web or in print.
To subscribe to the print edition, click on our subscription page.
Joe Matyas is a Free Press reporter.
Vorn Mak and his wife Soeur Nhek said they were speechless when notified by telephone that they had won the $1.3 million grand prize. After the news sunk in, “we’re 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 about 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,” Von Mak said.
The couple won a grand prize that included a $650,000 Wasko home in the Buttonbush subdivision near Colonel Talbot and Southdale roads, $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 that supports the London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care and Children’s Health Foundation.
The winners said they were going to take their time to decide what to do with the money before they make any life-changing decisions.
Rita Fieder, Dream Lottery coordinator said “it has been a very good year for the lottery. We’ve raised more than $1 million for the hospitals.”
For the latest local coverage, read The London Free Press on the web or in print.
To subscribe to the print edition, click on our subscription page.
Joe Matyas is a Free Press reporter.
6 comments:
congratulations! may i say please invest the money wisely so you can make more money from it by earning interests. god bless.
My dear,
Just remember who knew you when you were poor. New friend might start to know you now, you have to watch out. Congratulation too.
jati Khmer
With that amount of dough ... what could you conceivably do. Realistically, I cannot even reserve a penhouse condo in Phnom Penh. Or, I cannot even get a descent one-bed room in New York.
Congradulations I hope this money will not corrupt your soul.
Congratulation and enjoy! Life is too short. If you get back to square one tomorrow so what! at least you get to be a millionairs for a day! Buy! buy! and buy!
BRAVO !!
WHAT AN AWESOME WIN, DESERVING WIN
FOR A FEW NEW CANADIANS WHO WILL REALLY APPRECIATE THIS WIN
BEST WISHES FOLKS
RJW
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