He just wants more time

Man given 1 year to live wins million-dollar lottery

Associated Press
Last update: February 01, 2007 – 9:55 AM

NAPLES, N.Y. — In December, Wayne Schenk was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. A month later, he was a millionaire. The 50-year-old tavern owner from Naples, New York, won a million dollars in a New York state lottery scratch-off game. But the Marine Corps veteran doesn't expect to be around to collect all his winnings. To do that, he would have to live 20 years. His doctors have given him a year to live, at most. Under lottery rules for the High Stakes Blackjack game he won on January 12, the jackpot winner receives the cash in annual installments over 20 years. That's $50,000 before taxes. Schenk picked up his first payment last week -- $34,000 after taxes. Other than a hunting trip to Alaska, Schenk says he doesn't want to buy anything fancy with his winnings. He says he just wants more time