CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina cancer patient has big plans after winning a $250,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket.
The North Carolina Education Lottery reported Monday that Richard Beare of Charlotte, a retiree who recently was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer, bought the winning ticket two weeks ago at a Charlotte QuikTrip.
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"I rarely play the lottery," the former mechanic said. "I only stopped because my wife asked me to get a Powerball ticket since the jackpot was so high."
He ended up buying four Carolina Black scratch-off tickets, as well. The last ticket won the prize.
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Beare said his wife was stunned.
"She was in shock and just kept looking back and forth to me and the ticket," said Beare, who claimed his prize – $176,876 after taxes – on Monday.
He said he wants to travel and treat his wife to her dream vacation.
"My wife has always wanted to go to Italy since that's where her descendants are from," he said. "Now I can take her."