Summerside, P.E.I., woman shares Chase the Ace winnings with best friend

Marie Osmond didn't have to go to the movies Saturday to watch a miracle. Instead, the Summerside woman said was handed a miracle her own when she won half the Chase the Ace winnings in Sydney, N.S.

Osmond and her husband were getting ready to go see Miracle From Heaven when her best friend, Pam Lesnick, called to say they'd won $263,000.

"It was so surreal that I couldn't even think. I couldn't, nothing, I couldn't absorb anything. It was just. It was a crazy phone call," said Osmond.

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The two friends met Monday in Sydney to carve up the winnings.

"Pam and I have been friends for a lot of years and we've always split on Chase the Ace tickets. I'm originally from Cape Breton. Moved down to Summerside six years ago with my husband for his work and she and I have always split on our tickets."

Osmond said she even joked with her friend on Saturday that they would win.

"The morning of, Pam had called. And actually I had sent her an email transfer and we talked about, she was getting ready to go down to Chase the Ace and I said to her 'Okay, hurry up, go get dressed go down to the Legion and bring home our money.' Both of us had a feeling, it was a gut feeling that we were going to win that day."

While the pair did not win the big jackpot, Osmond said she is happy with her share and plans to pay bills, go on a trip with her family, and help family and friends.

"It takes the sting out of you know out of your life for paying bills and stuff like that. It's just, it's a great feeling," said Osmond.

"As far as buying something for myself, I really haven't thought about it yet. It's hasn't, you know, didn't sink in yet so I'm not sure what I'll do. Probably want to buy my husband something first."

The ace is still up for grabs in Sydney with seven cards left in the deck. The jackpot for week 45 is an estimated $1.9 million.

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