Carolyn Kirk of Fayetteville became the state’s second big Lucky for Life winner, beating the odds of 1.8 million to win the game’s second prize of $25,000 a year for life.

Kirk didn’t realize she won the drawing on March 24, until several days later when she checked her ticket.

“I was excited, nervous, and happy all at once,” Kirk said.

Kirk claimed her prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Winners of for life prizes can choose $25,000 a year for life or they can take a cash payout of $390,000. Kirk chose the cash option. After federal and state tax withholdings, she took home $270,075.

Kirk bought the $2 Quick Pick ticket at the Kangaroo Express on Cliffdale Road in Fayetteville. She won the $25,000 a year for life prize by matching all five white balls.

The first big win occurred earlier in March when a truck driver from Stokes County became the first North Carolina player to win the $25,000 a year for life prize. Henry Ford of Walnut Cove bought his lucky ticket at the Pop Shoppe on West Friendly Avenue in Greensboro.

Lucky for Life launched in February and is North Carolina’s third multi-state draw game. In all there are 10 ways to win a prize playing the game. The top prize is $1,000 a day for the rest of your life. Drawings are held every Monday and Thursday night.

Ticket sales from games like Lucky for Life made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion dollars for the state last year. For details on how over $155 million in lottery funds has made a difference in Cumberland County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.