Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Heidi Ulrichsen
Sleeping isn't something that Martin and Marlene Neva have done a lot of since they learned they won $12.6 million in a Lotto 6/49 draw on Saturday night.
The Lively couple is one of four winners splitting a $50.3 million jackpot.
"I checked the computer screen, and I checked the ticket, one after the other. Usually you look for the first number, because if the first number is there, you've got a chance on the second number and the third number," said Martin, speaking to Northern Life by phone from Toronto Tuesday afternoon.
"Then I went to wake up Marlene, who was sleeping in the other room. It was about 11 p.m. She never got a wink after that until 6:30 a.m."
The other tickets for the jackpot were purchased in the Halton region west of Toronto, the Durham region east of Toronto and in Quebec.  The winners from the Durham region have also stepped forward to claim their prize.
The couple have been married 42 years, are both 65 years old, and have two children and four grandchildren. Martin is a retired accountant and Marlene was a stay-at-home mom.
They bought $5 worth of lottery tickets for the draw at Battistelli's Your Independent Grocer in Lively. The Nevas have been buying one or two lottery tickets for each draw for years.
Martin said his son, daughter-in-law and grandson, who were already spending the night with the couple after attending a hockey game, joined in the celebration.
"We asked them to come in, and told them, and of course they couldn't believe it. I said 'Check the number.' So they went and checked the number. They were pretty excited as well," he said.
"Then we contacted our daughter, who lives up in the Northwest Territories. She was ecstatic and bouncing off the walls."
Martin said one of their immediate plans is to buy a new car for Marlene.
"The one that Marlene drives is a 2001. It's in good shape, but I think we can afford to get something a little more substantial."
The Nevas also plan to take a trip to Australia and share the prize with family.
Martin said he doesn't want winning the lottery to change his life too much.
"Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. It can be a life-changing event. Hopefully not ours."
