📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Woman Wins Lottery After Clearing Life Savings For Daughter's Cancer Treatment: 'The Best Winning Lottery Story' Geraldine Gimblet of Lakeland, Florida, was in for the surprise of her life when she bought a scratch-off ticket at her local convenience store.

By Emily Rella

entrepreneur daily
Florida Lottery
Geraldine Gimblet claimed a $2 million winning prize off of a $10 scratch-off ticket.

It's a well-deserved win.

A lucky lottery winner in Lakeland, Florida, claimed a $2 million winning prize off a $10 scratch-off ticket on April 7, choosing to take her earnings in a lump sum delivery of $1.645 million.

When Geraldine Gimblet bought the scratcher, she was having a difficult time, as her daughter had just finished treatment for breast cancer.

Related: Man Scores Winning Lottery Ticket After Being Cut In Line

"The day before my mom bought this ticket, I rang the bell and walked out of the hospital after completing my last treatment for breast cancer," Gimblet's daughter told the Florida Lottery. "My mom had taken out her life savings to take care of me when I was sick. I'm just so happy for her!"

"Ringing the bell" happens when a patient completes a prescribed course of treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation.

Many took to social media to congratulate Gimblet on her big win.

Pipkin Road Beverage Castle, the convenience store where Gimblet purchased the winning ticket, will receive a $2,000 prize for selling the winning numbers.

The Florida Lottery estimates games played in the state have paid out over $85.8 billion to winners and have made over 3,500 players millionaires.

Gimblet wasn't the only one winning big in recent lottery drawings.

Earlier this month, 61-year-old Earl Lape of Iowa purchased a winning $40 million jackpot ticket — but didn't believe that he had actually won because he had ironically purchased the ticket on April 1, a.k.a. April Fools' Day.

"I thought it was a joke," Lape said, per the Associated Press.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Growing a Business

Starting or Growing a Business? Here's How to Know When You Should Hire Your First Employee.

When enlisting help, follow these steps to make the best decision for your company.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Growing a Business

Your Comprehensive Guide to Becoming an SEO Expert – and Making Money While Doing It

Whether you're looking to earn more money or grow your digital presence, becoming an SEO expert could be a major windfall.

Life Hacks

3 Quintessential Skills To Help Your Teen Thrive in College

As teens continue to face increased anxiety around academic achievement and other parts of their life, here are three things we can do as parents to equip them with the skills they need to thrive.

Business News

Southwest Airlines CEO Says the Company May Start Assigning Seats

The airline reported its Q1 2024 earnings on Thursday.