It took a while to locate Timmins hospital 50/50 winner

Andre Brochu of Matheson is $128,932 richer after he won the Timmins and District Hospital Foundation’s August 50/50 grand prize. (Supplied)

Andre Brochu of Matheson is $128,932 richer after he won the Timmins and District Hospital Foundation’s August 50/50 grand prize.

“Mr. Brochu was very tough to get a hold of,” the foundation said in a news release Monday.

“On Friday evening, we spoke with a relative of one of our foundation team members that lives in Matheson. Sylvie and her husband knew Mr. Brochu and said they would go over to his house and let us speak with him on their phone. Sure enough, 20 minutes later we were telling Andre the great news.”

Brochu knows well the need for updated medical equipment in the hospital, having been a donor for more than 26 years.

Timmins and District Hospital is just that, a district hospital that takes patients in from across the northeast region. Proceeds from the 50/50 lottery help advance purchases of many different pieces of medical equipment and hospital renovation.

“This month and next, we will be funding a lab tissue processor, another important item that needs to be updated,” the foundation said in the release.

When asked what he was going to do with his windfall, Brochu said he was going to put a new roof on his house and invest the rest.