A quick stop for orange juice turned into a life-altering moment for a woman in North Carolina, who won $250,000 on a scratch-off lottery ticket. Kelly Spahr, from Kernersville, had only intended to pick up orange juice at the Quality Mart on Piney Grove Road, but she ended up purchasing a lottery ticket on a whim, according to North Carolina Education Lottery officials.
A Spur-of-the-Moment Decision
Spahr’s plan was simply to grab orange juice, but the new lottery tickets at the shop caught her eye. “When I noticed they had new tickets at the petrol station, I thought I’d give it a try,” she said. She chose a $20 “Merry Multiplier” scratch-off ticket, partly because it had a foldable part that piqued her curiosity. Her odds of winning the top prize? Approximately 1 in 1.2 million – a slim chance, yet one that changed her life.
A Life-Changing Win
In a stroke of luck, Spahr’s chosen ticket turned out to be the game’s top prize winner, securing her a $250,000 payout. Reflecting on the unexpected windfall, she shared, “It’s a life-changing amount for us. It really helps us out a lot.” She added that this prize will make a real difference to her family’s financial situation, saying, “This has just opened up more doors for us.”
Other Unexpected Wins
Remarkable stories like Spahr’s aren’t unheard of. In another case, a man who had forgotten his lunch at home bought a “Millionaire Bucks” scratch-off ticket from a grocery store, which turned out to be a $3 million winner. The odds of his win? Around 1 in 3 million. He commented, “I don’t usually go for the $30 tickets, but since I had $60 from some other Scratchers, I thought, ‘Why not?’” Seeing “Lottery Winner” pop up on the screen was a shock.
These stories illustrate how a simple decision to buy a scratch-off ticket on an ordinary day can transform lives. For Spahr and others, beating the odds brought about a win beyond their wildest expectations, creating major changes for their future.
