At their lunch meeting on April 2, Rotary Club of Williams Lake drew the winners of their fundraising raffle.
"It's not a scam," said Amber Stratton, club president, as one of the winners she had just notified double-checked via text message the win was for real.
The Rotary club had been selling the tickets since late 2024, and Stratton thanked everyone for their hard work in selling all 800 tickets for the raffle —with the exception of two tickets which were scratched out. She also thanked All Ways Travel for partnering with the club, and Tanya Vigeant of All Ways Travel was there to help pick the winners.
Stratton had promised to jump for joy and let the club post the photo if they sold out, so she made good on her promise at the meeting.
Vigeant had the honour of drawing the winning tickets, which was done precisely at 12:30 p.m., starting with third prize of a $500 cash prize, and then the second prize of a trip for four to hot springs and a night at a cabin in Bella Coola.
Finally, the grand prize was drawn for a $6,000 travel voucher with West Jet.
The top prize went to Anita Davidson, and when Stratton called to inform her of the win on speaker phone, Davidson's at first could only say "Wow."
Stratton said the funds raised from the program will go to support the group's youth programs, including sending students on exchanges and to leadership camp.
This year, the club has sent two students on exchanges to Italy, one student to Germany and one student is still being matched with a location. Students returning from a leadership camp will be at the April 16 club meeting to give a report on their experience.
The club will also be hosting the grand opening of the Rotary Fitness Park at Kiwanis Park on May 28, with hot dogs and burgers by donation.
