15 years of playing for a purpose

Ian has supported the Heart & Stroke Lottery since 2011 because he believes in research that saves and changes lives. “Heart disease and stroke can affect anybody, anytime,” he says. “For some of my family and friends, there have been heart issues.” For Ian, every breakthrough — from better treatments to improved detection — matters. “That research has to keep on going strong.”

From a phone call to $50,000 cash

On draw day, Ian came home from work to find a voicemail waiting on his phone. “I thought it was Heart & Stroke promoting the next lottery.,” he recalls. “Then I remembered I’d marked the date on my calendar. Suddenly it clicked, and I called back right away.”

When his wife got home, Ian waited until she finished talking about her day before sharing the news that they’d won $50,000. “She looked at me like, ‘Really??’” he laughs.

Why Ian keeps playing

But for Ian, the lottery is about more than winning. “There are lots of lotteries out there, but not all of them support a cause that makes such a huge difference in people’s lives,” he says. “The people sharing their stories on TV and on the Heart & Stroke website are real. You can see how grateful they are for research that has helped their lives and their family’s lives. Every ticket helps make that possible.”