Virginia Lottery winner to help mum

Thursday January 27^th 2011

A Virginia woman who won $1million on an instant lottery scratchcard has said she intends to share the cash with her mother as a thank-you. Carla Henderson, a law enforcement worker from Locust Grove, north Virginia, stopped at a Texaco gas station while driving to work earlier this month and decided to buy lotto tickets while she was there. Ms Henderson spent her spare change on a $70million Payout Spectacular instant ticket, but didn’t scratch it straight away.

It was only while sitting in her car later that day that the lottery player found out she’d won the game’s jackpot prize of $1million.

Speaking to Virginia Lottery officials, Ms Henderson said: “I feel so very happy. It will be good to give back to my mother, who gave so much for me.”

Ms Henderson had the option of receiving annual payments for the next 25 years, but has instead decided to take the lump sum alternative. She will now be handed a cheque for $642,000 before tax.

As a reward for selling a winning jackpot ticket, the gas station where Ms Henderson bought her scratchcard will receive a bonus of $10,000.

Written by Brett Levenson

Written by Chris Brown

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