Frederick Cancer Survivor, Husband Win $1 Million Scratch-Off Prize

Playing the Lottery during treatment helped take their minds off their worries

A husband and wife claimed a $1 million Maryland Lottery scratch-off prize on June 28, but they were already celebrating something even bigger.

Upon claiming the prize, the husband explained, “She just survived cancer, so it’s a blessing!”

During her treatment, and in recent weeks and months, the Frederick pair played scratch-offs as a way to take their minds off their worries. The $20 Show Me $1,000,000! scratch-off delivered a $1 million top-prize win. Securing a windfall while playing was a big bonus, they said, and the extra money will make it possible for the wife to retire early.

“We’ll be able to get her off her feet,” said the 57-year-old husband. The money will also go to settle a few bills, and most of it will end up in savings. The Frederick County residents already had a post-treatment vacation scheduled.

As for celebrations related to the Lottery win, they really don’t expect to plan any because, as the husband put it, “We basically celebrate every day when we get home from work – being alive and having a job.” In the future, they plan to continue to buy instant tickets because they enjoy the games.

Also picking up a win is the store where the hot instant ticket was purchased. Festival Major Liquors at 446 Prospect Boulevard in Frederick receives a bonus of $1,000 from the Lottery for selling a $1 million top-prize winning scratch-off.

The Show Me family of scratch-off games – $1, $2, $5 and $10 instant tickets – went on sale May 23 while the $20 scratch-off arrived in stores on April 18. Players can choose from a $1 Show Me $1,000! game, a $2 Show Me $10,000! game, a $5 Show Me $50,000! scratch-off, $10 Show Me $100,000! and a $20 Show Me $1,000,000! instant ticket.

The $20 Show Me $1,000,000! instant ticket still has big prizes up for grabs. There are five $1 million top prizes remaining, as well as five $50,000 prizes, 69 $10,000 prizes and more than 820,000 prizes of $40 to $1,000.