Hogs raffle winner thrilled with payout

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — Maureen Nelson was just exiting the grocery store on Wednesday, August 4 when her cell phone rang.

The friendly 78-year-old from Desbarats, Ontario (pronounced Deborah) reluctantly answered the call.

On the other end was Joe Oswald, surrounded by a few other members of the Hogs for Hospice Committee, all waiting anxiously for Maureen’s reaction.

As Oswald spoke, Maureen’s first thought was that someone wanted a donation.

“Is there any chance you can call me back?”, she asked.

Oswald explained that she may want to hear what he had to say, since she was about to be $99,700 richer.

“Yeah right,” she said. “I don’t believe you.”

As the two spoke, Maureen’s reaction prompted a few chuckles from the committee members on the other end. “Okay, did my son put you up to this?”, she asked.

Oswald and the committee assured her it was real.

Her daughter Tina was nearby and took the phone, verifying that the call was indeed, real.

“Her call was the most entertaining of any of the calls we’ve made so far,” said Oswald. “Good things happen to good people.”

The mother of five, grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of 15, says the money will be well-shared.

She lost her partner just four months ago and the money will be life-changing.

“This will make a big difference in her life,” said her son Andy, who lives in Leamington.

LEAMINGTON — Hogs for Hospice Cash is King 50-50 Raffle winner Maureen Nelson, on bike, pumps her arm in the air as she receives the big cheque. She is backed by Hogs committee members Donny Pacheco, Joe Oswald, Benji Mastronardi and Dave Hodare. Committee members Tim Iles, Kevin Safrance and Brian Cornies were out of town.

Maureen had heard about the Hogs for Hospice Cash is King 50-50 Raffle through Andy, but never imagined she’d win the big draw.

Her interest in motorcycles goes back to the 1970s. She’s been a licensed motorcycle rider for about 43 years.

Maureen met with the Hogs committee at Erie Shores Hospice last Tuesday evening to receive her cheque.

She then met Oswald at the CIBC in Leamington on Wednesday morning to make the deposit.

“It’s still hard to believe,” said Maureen. “This is well appreciated, more than you realize.”

As for the future, Maureen plans to move out of the hamlet of Desbarats, just east of Sault Ste. Marie and head south to Leamington in the coming months.

That plan makes her son — and the Hogs committee — very happy.

Maureen — all smiles — couldn’t be happier herself.

“You guys are amazing for all that you’ve done,” she said.