Prize will go toward 30th wedding anniversary cruise
An Essex woman’s wish for her 52nd birthday came true within a week of her celebration, thanks to the lucky numbers she played in the Maryland Lottery’s Bonus Match 5 game. The birthday gal bought her ticket for the March 17 drawing at the Essex Exxon in Baltimore.
“I was just saying to my husband how great it would be if I won a lot of money for my birthday,” she said. “When I saw that my numbers had come out, my heart just started pounding. So, I showed a co-worker and then I took off early, raced to my husband’s job and showed him. This is such a blessing.”
The lucky winner, who has worked as an assembly mechanic for over 30 years, said that her winning numbers came from a Quick-Pick ticket she purchased months ago. She told Lottery officials that she likes the numbers and kept playing them. The winning Bonus Match 5 numbers were 3, 5, 9, 21 and 30 with a bonus ball number of 24.
She and her husband of 30 years, who accompanied her to Lottery headquarters, plan to pay a few bills with the prize and splurge on a prepaid cruise they booked earlier this year to celebrate their 30th anniversary. “This has been a great birthday and with this win we’ll now have a great 30th anniversary,” she said.
The retailer also benefits from her win. For selling the top-prize ticket in the game, the store located at 2333 Eastern Avenue will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery.