THUNDER BAY — She lives in Whitby, but the winner of the Thunder Bay 50/50's early bird draw for $50,000 has a strong personal connection to the city and to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Natalie Swaren learned through a phone call Tuesday morning that her numbers had come up for the largest early bird prize in the draw's history.
"Here's a little present from home to you," said Glenn Craig, president and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
Swaren was born and raised in the city but currently works for Metrolinx in the Greater Toronto Area.
She had to step away from her desk to process the news, and said "I'm so glad I answered my phone this morning."
The windfall comes at a good time for her, as Swaren needs a new car, and has been saving for a down payment on a house.
She said she supports the 50/50 because a few of her family members have been treated for cancer at the Health Sciences Centre.
"Thankfully, they are still here with us today," she said.
Craig said "We couldn't be happier to be ending 2024 with this incredible call to our Holiday Bonus winner. And on Friday, an even bigger, life-changing call is going to be made. Someone is going to become a multi-millionaire."
As of early Tuesday afternoon, the grand prize stood at a record $5.4 million, easily making it the largest hospital 50/50 prize in Canadian history.
Tickets are available online until midnight on Jan. 2.
