Woman fighting breast cancer wins lottery for the second time

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — A North Carolina woman battling breast cancer is celebrating after she won a $250,000 lottery prize, marking her second big win in three months.

Gina Short and her husband won $1 million in the Ultimate Millions second-chance drawing in February, according to state lottery officials. The couple was back on Wednesday to pick up their prize in the All or Nothing game. After federal and state taxes, they got just over $173,000.

“We're still in disbelief mode,” Short said.

Short had her husband pick up a $2 ticket for the All or Nothing game at a Publix in Cornelius, North Carolina on April 29. To win the top prize, a player has to match all 12 numbers or none of them, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery. Short didn't match any number.

“We kind of didn't believe it,” she said. “We checked the same ticket six or seven times because we thought we misread it.”

Gina Short's husband, Len Short, said the winnings would go toward his wife's battle with breast cancer. She was diagnosed six years ago and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

“For us to have the good fortune of winning not just one big prize but two, we are just very thankful for that,” Len Short said. “We'll use the money for Gina. She's the priority. She's No. 1.”

Cox Media Group