2 Lions clubs join forces for Chase the Ace fundraiser

The Chase the Ace lottery has been a bonanza for churches and charities. Now,Lions Clubs in Torbay and Portugal Cove-St. Philip's havejoined forces to start their own fundraising phenomenon.

The service clubs metSaturday at the Village Mall in St. John's to kick things off.

LionsRandyTraskand Fred Thompson said around $100 intickets were sold andtheyare hopeful the game will catch on.

"We're just looking for new ideasand a chance to make some possibly big money and the chance for some people, when they win, to win some big money also," said Trask.

"We do a lot of good things out in the community and we just wanted to try and do more."

"One of the things in the Lions Club and any charity I guess is whatever avenue you happen to see out there that can raise some money you give it a try," said Thompson.

The game works byselling tickets on a monetary prize andthe chance to winmore, if you draw the ace of spades from a deck of cards.

Tickets are sold each week and the jackpot continues to growuntil the aceis chosen.

"We draw a ticket, the winner gets 20per centof whatever we take in that night," said Thompson. "They get 20per cent right away and we get 50percent."

Thompson told theCBC'sSt. John's Morning Show that theremaining 30per cent wouldgothe the winner of the ticket draw if they choose the ace of spades.

"If they don't, that card is ripped up so the deck keeps getting smaller and that 30per cent goes into the jackpot," said Thompson.

Trask said there are rulestoensure that thegame isn't fixed.

"We have to do everything by lottery standards so we get a deck of cards and they're all secured at the end of the evening," said Trask.

"At the beginning, before the cards are actually spread out, we actually show and take pictures of the ace to show that the ace is actually in that deck."

The game could last for52 weeks if the ace wasn'tdrawn until the last card butodds are it won't go that long.

A recent Chase the Acefundraiserin Lourdes, Newfoundland and Labrador lasted 44 weeks and raised nearly$500,000 for the local parish.

Thompson said long running games like the Lourdes eventare an exception.

"We heard of onethe other week that, I thinkthey were in their 12thor15thweek," said Thompson. "So the norm is not those great big ones."

Chase the Ace is a gambling event but the Lionssaid they're not concerned.

"Why should we feel any guiltier than somebody walking in and buying lottery tickets," said Thompson. "The money goes to good causes, the money helps a lot of people."

Thompson and Trask said the moneyraised will be used tosupport various programs such as the Lions MaxSimmsMemorialCamp, but the clubsalways put the needs in theircommunities first.

"And we donate to persons who need and Scouts and Guides and all that kind of stuff," said Thompson

Trask added,"We do small thingswe've been known to put ramps on houses for people in wheelchairs, provide transportation for people that need a ride to the hospital."