National

Nursing assistant used family’s birthdays to win big North Carolina lottery jackpot

The woman said she uses the same numbers every time she plays. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
The woman said she uses the same numbers every time she plays. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) AP

The same lucky numbers Kiara Carlton uses every time she plays the lottery finally won her a jackpot in North Carolina.

“I choose my numbers based on my family’s birthdays,” she told lottery officials in a July 1 news release.

Carlton, who works as a nursing assistant and lives in Winston-Salem, bought her lucky $1 Cash 5 Ticket at the Run-In in Wilkesboro, lottery officials said.

She won $110,000 in the June 14 drawing, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.

“I was just astonished,” Carlton told lottery officials. “You never really think that could actually happen to you.”

Carlton already has a plan for her winnings, too. The 23-year-old wants to use the money to pursue her nursing degree.

“I just started working in health care and I love it,” Carlton told lottery officials.

After taxes, Carlton took home $78,111, lottery officials said.

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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This story was originally published July 1, 2022 at 7:25 PM with the headline "Nursing assistant used family’s birthdays to win big North Carolina lottery jackpot."

Alison Cutler
mcclatchy-newsroom
Alison Cutler is a National Real Time Reporter for the Southeast at McClatchy. She graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and previously worked for The News Leader in Staunton, VA, a branch of USAToday.
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