An elderly man from Iowa was swimming at a local gym, keeping track of his laps, when he noticed two numbers that caught his attention: eight and 18. This uncommon occurrence motivated Marty Curry to take an unusual step — he decided to purchase lottery tickets, something he rarely does, as stated in a press release by the Iowa Lottery.
On August 23rd, the 66-year-old resident of Dixon shared with lottery officials that he had made a personal commitment to buy any lottery tickets with the number eight on them from the nearby Hy-Vee store. His intention led him to the “Crazy 8s” scratch game, where he purchased several $2 game tickets. He chose to wait until he was back home before scratching them.
In a fortunate turn of events, the final ticket he scratched turned out to be the jackpot winner. He had successfully won the top prize of $18,888 in the game.
Recalling the experience, Curry said, “It’s strange how that connection between eight and 18 just clicked in my mind, and then I ended up winning exactly $18,888.” Overwhelmed by the unexpected victory, he confessed, “It felt surreal, like I was in a dream. I stared at the number in disbelief and even shed some tears.”
During the moment of realization, Curry was in the company of his three pets: a cat and two dogs. He shared his joy with them, exclaiming, “You guys are going to get all the treats you want!”
Being a retired truck driver, Curry expressed his plans to use a portion of his winnings to support his children and grandchildren, stating, “I’m not only going to improve my own situation, but I’m also committed to helping others.”
Dixon, located in Scott County, is approximately 55 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids.
It’s important to note that while many individuals can engage in gambling or games of chance responsibly, for some, it can develop into an addictive behavior that harms lives and families.
If you or someone you know is displaying signs of gambling addiction, assistance is available through the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or by visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling’s website.