Hogs raffle winner collects his big cheque

When Josh Jennings got the call of a lifetime from Joe Oswald and the Hogs for Hospice Board last Friday, he was at his job as a pipefitter with Local 663 Sarnia.

“My next call was to my boss,” he said. “I quit.”

The 36-year-old from Brigden, Ontario, made the trip to Leamington on Hogs for Hospice weekend twice. He came Friday night and returned Saturday to participate in the weekend’s activities.

On Monday, August 5, he had so enjoyed the weekend that he decided to purchase $100 more worth of tickets to help the cause. Those were the tickets that won him $449,945.

On Monday, August 12, he and seven of his riding friends got on their bikes once again and made the trip to Leamington — this time to the Hospice, Erie Shores Campus — to collect his cheque exactly one week after purchasing his tickets.

Josh said he was thrilled to get that kind of money, which will go toward helping he and his girlfriend in building a new house.

Meanwhile, he’ll ride off into the sunset knowing he’s helped a great cause and helped himself with life-changing money.

For Oswald and the Hogs board, they are pleased that once again, they’ve been able to provide a large sum of life-changing money to someone who can use it.

“There was a vision and that was to bring awareness and funds to this wonderful place called Hospice,” he said. “That has turned into a movement and in 2020, we asked how can we do more.”

That ‘more’ was launching their 50-50 draw, which has now given over $2 million to the Hospice, as well as $2 million to families who need it.

“Looking back, everyone (who won) was in need of the money,” he said of all the previous winners.

Then, getting emotional, he told a story about how the area got tons of rainfall on the opening night of Hogs weekend, but the southern portion of Leamington’s waterfront was spared from any rain.

“It was like God split the rain all around and spared us. When you’re doing God’s work, God’s got your back,” he added. 

Oswald then talked about this year’s winner, saying that Jennings was such a humble person with humble beginnings and he’s pleased that the almost $450,000 went to someone who can use the funds.

To top it off — literally — board member Benji Mastronardi then reached into his pocket and pulled out $55 to bring Josh’s total to an even $450,000.

“Benji wanted to make it right and even things off,” said Oswald with a chuckle.