When Tom Timleck bought one of 100 Mile and District Hospice Palliative Care Society's 50/50 tickets last month he didn't expect to win.
The longtime Forest Grove resident and septic worker for Orville's Backhoe & Septic Service said that he likes buying 50/50 tickets to support local charities and community groups. When he got the call on Sept. 9 he had won $25,000 he couldn't quite believe it until the cheque was in his hand two days later.
"I used to do raffles with the Legion in Forest Grove and I always support all the local raffles. I'll buy it for the hockey, the grad, all the tickets. It's not much money and it goes to help out the locals," Timleck said. "It's my first time winning one of these, usually I'm just a good donor."
Over the years Timleck has been an active member of his community serving as a volunteer firefighter for the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department and president of the Forest Grove Legion from 2008 to 2012. Recently he's been dealing with bladder cancer which he had surgery for and is still receiving treatment for at the 100 Mile District General Hospital every three months, on top of working full time.
With this money, Timleck said he intends to reduce the stress in his life and primarily use it for practical concerns, like settling some debts. He intends to use some of it, however, to go on a walkabout through Southeast Asia in early 2025.
"I would like to go over to Asia and go backpacking and figure out life because life has been stressful in the last couple of years," Timleck said. "I just want to go put myself back together."
Timleck plans to fly to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and end up in Hanoi, Vietnam. He remarked it doesn't matter how he gets from point A to point B, just so long as he's able to find the perfect beach along the way.
On hospice's side of things, executive director Tracy Haddow remarked they were happy the money went to a South Cariboo local. The success of the 50/50 draws means hospice now has $25,000 which they will put towards supporting the various programs and activities they operate year-round.
Timleck remarked he'd like to thank everyone who helped put the 50/50 draw together and donated this year.
"I would like to thank the community for donating to my winnings," Timleck chuckled.
