Hogs raffle winner happy to pick up his cheque

By Mark Ribble

Although he’d never been to the Hospice Erie Shores Campus, Hogs for Hospice 50-50 draw winner Shawn Denkers was actually sitting in the Windsor-Essex Hospice building on Friday, January 10 when his phone rang, telling him his ticket had been drawn.

“I really didn’t know who it was when I answered,” says Shawn. “I thought it was some sort of scam.”

Shawn’s sisters told him it was a scam because, “what are the odds that you’re sitting in one hospice building when someone calls you about the draw that just netted you $140,980 from supporting the other hospice building.”

It was no scam and on the line was Hogs committee member Tim Iles, backed by several other members of the committee.

Shawn’s stepfather is currently in hospice in Windsor, so it is fitting that someone whose family is currently benefiting from the hospice experience should win the big draw.

And further to that, Shawn was born in Leamington before moving to the Windsor area as a five-year-old. He and his wife Collette now live just outside of Amherstburg.

The 49-year-old is recovering from a hip replacement, so getting around has been a bit of a challenge but he, his wife and his mother made the trek to Leamington on Wednesday, January 15 to collect the big cheque.

“I haven’t had time to think about it,” he said. “For now, we’ll just put it away and then make some decisions later.”

He did say that he used to own a motorcycle, but after he hurt his hip playing hockey (he’s a goalie), he sold the bike.

“Maybe I’ll have to get another one now that my hip is fixed,” he chuckled. “Really, I’m just happy to support such a wonderful place.”

Hogs Committee spokesperson Donny Pacheco says that Shawn is not the only big winner.

“We’ve not only raised $2 million for Hospice, we’ve also raised the same $2 million for several families who’ve been the winners,” he said. “We’re glad that Shawn and his family are receiving this money.”

Shawn and Collette (and mom) met with committee members for the big presentation at the Hospice Erie Shores Campus and he was impressed by Leamington’s version of what he is experiencing in Windsor.