The Neepawa & District Medical Committee Farm & Leisure Lotto's early bird deadline is Saturday, March 28th, with the draw on Monday, March 30th.
The early bird prize is a choice of either a $12,000 voucher to Enns Brothers for machines, parts, or service, or $10,000 cash.
Neepawa Lotto Chairman Mary Ellen Clark said another thing that usually draws people in is their 50/50 draw, which usually gets pretty high.
"Once you have purchased a $100 ticket or a 3 for $250 ticket, you can also purchase your 50/50 ticket, which is actually usually a big prize, it often ranges from $47,000 to $50,000," said Clark.
Both proceeds from lotto ticket sales and the 50/50 go to a good local cause: the Beautiful Plains Community Medical Clinic.
"The proceeds go to our medical clinic. Over the years we've purchased a building, a medical clinic, and we've renovated it 3 different times already...we also at the moment have a residency program here, where medical students who are doctors actually come and take a 2 year residency program here which is included in our expansion, because once they've done their 2 years, they are offered a contract to be a doctor in our community, if they wish to stay here," said Clark.
Over the years they've been running the lotto, the committee has found a way to make sure it goes off without a hitch. They've commandeered the Neepawa town office, and have plenty of people to run the lotto.
"We turned the town office into our office, and we have a phone bank of 4 different people and someone at the door for the walk-ins as well. So we're actually live for the next 3 days here in the town office," said Clark.
Clark also said the lotto wouldn't be possible without the constant support from communities in the Parkland, especailly Dauphin.
"Since our very beginning 18 years ago, Dauphin has always supported us extremely well, and we just want to thank that community out there, and thanks to [Alec Woolston] who has been with us for several years, it makes a huge difference to our community, the support we're getting from your area, so we'd like to thank you for that," said Clark.
The early bird deadline is Saturday at 7:00 PM, with the early bird draw on Monday at 1:00 PM. The current 50/50 draw total is just over $44,000.
