Massillon man who battled colon cancer wins $1 million on lottery scratch-off ticket

MASSILLON – A Massillon man who battled colon cancer won $1 million playing an Ohio Lottery scratch-off game ― and he plans to give some of his winnings back to the chemotherapy center where he received treatment.

Michael Simons Jr. won the top prize playing the $50 scratch-off Billion at the Massillon Mini Mart.

“I got a bad colonoscopy last year, went through stage 3 colon cancer … went through 12 rounds of intensive chemo and got a clean scan in April. They got me out of stage 3,” Simons told the Ohio Lottery Commission, according to a news release issued Tuesday.

He also plans to get his teeth fixed and give a gift to his dog’s veterinarian office. The news release didn't name the treatment center or vet.

Simons told the lottery that he went to the store located at 2622 Lincoln Way NW to redeem a winning ticket, picked up a couple of scratch-offs, and went to work. He didn’t win but felt like he needed to go back, so on a supply run for a broom, he returned to the store.

“Something kind of told me to go back to that store," he told the lottery. "It was clear across town by my house, about five miles out of the way so I went zooming past Home Depot where I was going to get the broom, went back to the store."

Simons, who couldn't immediately be reached for comment, thought he won only $100 at first. But after realizing his big fortune, he told the store owner and called his 89-year-old grandmother, the lottery said.

Massillon Mini Mart sold $50,000 lottery ticket earlier this month

Kash Patal, manager at the Mini Mart, said Simons' ticket, which was purchased Friday, was the second big winner this month. A $50,000 scratch-off ticket was sold Sept. 3.

"It was a lucky week," said Patal, adding that the store should garner a percentage of Simons' winning from the state lottery commission in 2025 after taxes are filed.

"They say we'll get something, but I don't know how much," he said.

Selling a $1 million lottery ticket results in some good publicity for the Massillon store, Patal added.

"Anything helps with the economy we're in right now," he said.

Simons chose the cash option of $500,000. After mandatory federal and state tax withholdings, he will receive about $360,000.

Simons is the second Stark County resident to win $1 million on the Billion game within the last year. Last September, the lottery announced that Chandra Potschner of Wilmot won $1 million on the scratch-off after buying two tickets at Speedway at 4230 Erie Ave. SW in Perry Township.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Massillon man who battled colon cancer wins $1 million lottery prize