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Illinois Lottery Launches 2018 ‘Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure’ Instant Ticket

The 2018 ‘Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure’ instant ticket.

CHICAGO — October 5, 2018 — More than 1,800 women in Illinois die from breast cancer each year, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). On a mission to decrease that number and save lives, the Illinois Lottery and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today celebrated the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by unveiling the 2018 Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure. Illinois was the first lottery in the U.S. to launch an instant game to support the fight against breast cancer.

Since 2006, Ticket for the Cure has raised more than $12.5 million to support breast cancer research, awareness and education in Illinois. One hundred percent of profits generated from ticket sales are distributed by IDPH, which awards grants to medical research centers and community organizations across Illinois that are working to find a cure or aid those fighting breast cancer. In Illinois, 28 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, according to IDPH.

“The Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure continues to give players a unique opportunity to support breast cancer research and awareness efforts,” Illinois Lottery Acting Director Harold Mays said. “The Illinois Lottery is always proud to partner with the Illinois Department of Public Health to help fight breast cancer through the sale of this instant ticket.”

This specialty game was renamed Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure in 2011, in honor of former Illinois Lottery Superintendent (2003-2007) Carolyn Adams, who fought her battle with breast cancer until 2007. Each Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure costs $3. Available prizes range from $5 to three top prizes of $50,000. The Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure instant ticket is available at more than 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers throughout the state. Adams oversaw the initial launch of Ticket for the Cure during her tenure at the Illinois Lottery.

NBC 5 Chicago’s Zoraida Sambolin, a breast cancer survivor, presided over today’s ticket launch event, which was hosted by the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force. Carolyn Adams’ mother was also present to observe the tribute to her daughter’s memory.

“Breast cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among American women, and is the second leading cause of cancer death,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “A woman living in the U.S. has a 1-in-8 lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer.”

“The Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force has been blessed by support from the Ticket for the Cure. We believe that every woman should have an equal chance at surviving breast cancer. We work hard every day to ensure that women of color, women with less resources and can access the high quality breast care that they need so that they can survive and thrive,” said Anne Marie Murphy Ph.D., Executive Director of the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force.

According to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. Early detection can save lives, click here for information from IDPH about breast cancer and screenings in Illinois.

The Illinois Lottery has contributed more than $20 billion since 1985 to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and other special causes, such as Illinois veterans services, the fight against breast cancer, Multiple Sclerosis research, Special Olympics training programs and assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS.

For video footage of the ticket launch event click here. For more information on Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure, please visit the Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure page. 

About Illinois Lottery

Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $20 billion (since 1985) to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and to special causes like Illinois Veterans services, the fight against breast cancer, MS research, Special Olympics and assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to playing in-store, the Illinois Lottery offers online and mobile play for all draw-based Illinois Lottery games at illinoislottery.com. Players must be at least 18 years old