Numbers click in swimmer’s mind as he counts laps, then he wins fitting lottery prize

An Iowa grandpa was counting his laps while swimming at a local gym when “two numbers stood out to him” — eight and 18.

This inspired Marty Curry to do something he never does — buy lottery tickets, according to a news release from the Iowa Lottery.

“I told myself that I was going to go across the street to Hy-Vee, and if they had any lottery tickets that had the number eight, I’m going to buy them,” the 66-year-old Dixon man told lottery officials on Aug. 23.

Once at the Eldridge grocery store, Curry said he spotted the “Crazy 8s” scratch game and bought a handful of the $2 game tickets. Then he waited until he was home to start scratching.

The last ticket he scratched was the big winner, officials said. He had won $18,888 — the game’s top prize.

“For some reason, that eight and 18 clicked in my mind, and that’s exactly what I won: $18,888,” Curry said when claiming his win.

“It was like I just couldn’t believe it, it was almost a dream,” he told lottery officials. “I was staring at it, and then I stared at the number again. I stared at it and then I just started crying.”

Curry, a retired truck driver, was with his three pets — a cat and two dogs — when he realized how much he won, according to the release.

“And I told them, ‘You guys are going to get all the treats you want!’” he recalled.

He said he also plans to share some of his winnings with his kids and grandchildren.

“Not only can I help myself, I’m going to definitely help other people,” he said.

Dixon, in Scott County, is about 55 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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