Draw 3 Winner: "This Prize Was a Big Weight Off My Shoulders"

PCF Lottery Draw 3 Winner Uses Prize to Secure His Family's Future.

When Preston Campbell called A.K. during a regular work day to deliver the news, he needed a moment to take it in.

"Oh my god," was all he could manage at first. "I'm tingling. I got to sit down."

It was the only competition A.K. had ever entered and funnily enough, his $100 Ticket Book was only purchased 3 days before the draw closed after noticing a Facebook post. He didn't know much about the Preston Campbell Foundation at the time, but the message was enough to turn him into the PCF Lottery Draw 3 First Prize winner.

"I saw the ad and I thought, at least the money's going somewhere good. So I thought I'd buy a ticket."

Minutes after hearing the news, A.K. was already thinking about what to do with his $52,000 prize. A new car crossed his mind, and the home loan was front of mind straight away. But the more immediate question was a different one entirely.

"How are you going to finish your work day?" Preston asked him.

"It just has to get done," A.K. laughed. "But I'll be smiling all day."

When the excitement settled, A.K. decided to put the prize toward his home loan.

Working 64 hours a week across six days, with six months of overtime still ahead of him, A.K. didn't need a holiday, he needed security. And that's exactly what the prize delivered.

According to A.K., the decision shortened his mortgage by at least two years. He could now be out of work for two years and still keep his house — a level of financial safety that changes how you sleep at night.

"The prize has been a God send. Foreseeing a future where I no longer need to do overtime is a lot nearer. Which is a big weight off my shoulders."

As for telling his wife? A.K. said he needed to calm down first. "My wife's going to probably find out," he said with a laugh, still processing the news mid-shift.

Why It Matters

Not every winner's story involves champagne and a new set of keys. Sometimes the biggest win is breathing room, knowing the grind has an end date, knowing your family is more secure, and knowing that one good decision just bought you two years of freedom.

For A.K., that's what $52k in gold bullion from the PCF Lottery looked like. Not flashy, but life-changing in the way that actually matters.

It's also a reminder of why the Preston Campbell Foundation Lottery exists. Every ticket sold funds programs and initiatives that support community wellbeing - from health and education to employment and mentorship. And every now and then, a ticket changes the life of the person holding it too.

You can view the full list of Draw 3 winners here. Want to read more winner stories? See how our Draw 1 and Draw 2 winners reacted to the life-changing call.