Dream Lottery grand prize winners, Fred and Jean Van Tooren, July 6, 2015. Photo by Victoria Sartor, BlackburnNews.com. Dream Lottery grand prize winners, Fred and Jean Van Tooren, July 6, 2015. Photo by Victoria Sartor, BlackburnNews.com.
London

Dream Lottery Winners Claim Million

The Dream Lottery grand prize winners Fred and Jean Van Tooren are $1-million richer.

The couple from Miller Lake visited the Dream Lottery home in London on Monday to collect their winnings.

They chose the cash option over the four luxury home packages.

Jean received the call on June 25 saying her ticket had been drawn as the grand prize winner.

"I was just shaking and hyperventilating and my heart was pounding and I couldn't believe it. I still feel like it's surreal," she says.

Jean immediately called Fred who was doing yard work out at their cottage.

"I said Fred, I think I'm having a heart attack! We won a million dollars! He said, 'oh, well don't forget to bring down the pizza for lunch.' So I did, with some beer, and a Yukon Jack."

"And by one o'clock, nobody knew what day it was," says Fred.

The couple says about one third of the money is spoken for by their four sons, their six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Fred also plans on getting a new truck with the winnings.

Susan Crowley, President and CEO of the Children's Health Foundation drew the Van Tooren's ticket and gave Jean the news.

"She's a loyal ticket purchaser to Dream Lottery," says Crowley. "So we're just really glad to see a great couple win."

Jean says the experience has been quite a ride.

"I've never had a lot of money. I've had enough, but not a lot. We've kind of put Miller Lake on the map," says Jean. "We're pretty proud."

All money raised through Dream Lottery ticket sales goes towards supporting Children’s Health Foundation, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation and London Health Science’s Foundation.

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