McAdam Chase the Ace to raise money for assisted living facility

A 'chase the ace' lottery is underway in McAdam on Saturday as a fundraiser foran assisted living facility for people with intellectual disabilities.

• Tignish Chase the Ace raised nearly $1M
• Sydney Chase the Ace jackpot climbs to $430K

KenStannix, with theMcAdamHeart and Home Corporation, says the tickets will be sold beginning at 1 p.m. at the McAdam legion, with the draw being held at 3:15.

In chase the ace lotteries, Stannix said the person with the winning ticket gets to choose onecard from a deck.

"If they select the ace of hearts they will win the grand jackpot," otherwise they get 20 per cent of ticket sales for that day, with30 per cent of thepot rollingover.

Stannix said a recent 'chase the ace' lottery in Cape Bretoncreated enormous buzz with a $1.7 million jackpot.

McAdamHeart and Home has a goal of raising $300,000 from the lottery over the next three years, to go towards the estimated $1.5 million needed for the project.

They have dignity and self-worthand what we want to try and do is capture that by giving them a handup, not a hand out.- Ken Stannix, McAdam Heart and Home

The group wants a buildingwith 1012 apartments and a communal living and dining area. Stannix said there are a number of people in the areawith developmental challenges who would benefit from such a facility.

Severalof them work at the Lakeland Industries workshop making items such assurvey stakes and pallets, and most live at home, Stannix said, often with aging parents who may not always be there to help.

"We said, 'What can we do ...to ease their minds so their children might have a place to live once that transition takes place?" he said.

Stannixsaid he has been told by theCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation the projectwould be eligible for $100,000"once we're in a position to get amortgage."

He said he's alsobeen approached by abig box store interested in supportingthe projectonce the group achievescharitable status. He said while he wouldn't turn down government funding, he's trying to stay away from that.

"A lot of these folks are working at Lakeland Industries and they have independence and they have dignity and self-worthand what we want to try and do is capture that by giving them a handup, not a hand out," said Stannix.