With little time to spare, Barnabas Were claims Cruise For Cash prize. |
Wins cruise vacation for two playing Cruise for Cash scratch-off
Barnabas Were visited Lottery Headquarters today to claim a prize that officials worried had been lost or accidentally thrown away by a player. Mr. Were’s arrival and the Caribbean cruise he claimed caught them by surprise because the Cruise for Cash ticket he presented had only about thirty hours of “life” left.
The Lottery’s Cruise for Cash game, a ticket offering cash prizes up to $50,000 and luxury Caribbean cruises, debuted in January of last year – about 18 months ago – and proved to be very successful. The ticket’s final claim date is this Sunday, June 17th. The Lottery’s claim center is closed Saturday and Sunday, so 4:30 p.m. tomorrow would have been the last chance to claim any prize.
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“I scratched this ticket late last year,” Barnabas told Lottery officials. “I had no one to bring with me, so I set it aside until I did.” He mentioned the win to a friend earlier this week and was concerned to hear that he might have waited too long and the ticket might no longer be good. Luckily, he arrived in time.
The native of Kenya has never been on a cruise and is excited about his prize. “I can’t believe that I cut it so close. I’m glad I didn’t wait any longer.” Mr. Were’s Lottery luck found him at the Queen Town Shell station, 5398 Queen’s Chapel Road in Hyattsville.