State Senator Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, is a breast cancer survivor. She tells FOX 35 that her idea for a lottery scratch-off ticket to pay for breast cancer research could help thousands of women in Florida battling the disease.
“I think we need some additional sources to fund research and clinical trials on breast cancer,” she said.
Sen. Thompson is sponsoring a bill to create the new lottery ticket. After the winner takes his or her cut and the lottery takes its fees, “The money goes to our state universities that have medical schools to do research and clinical trials on breast cancer.”
The Florida Lottery tells FOX 35 that it has raised $26 billion dollars for education since 1988. Every ticket ever sold in Florida has supported education. Thompson wants to be clear that her bill would not steer money away from education.
She clarifies, “The funds go to education. It goes to our state universities that have medical schools such as FSU and the University of Florida.”
Thompson realizes critics might want their own scratch-off tickets to support research on other diseases. She says if her bill passes, it would sunset after five years. Lawmakers would have a chance to add lottery tickets for other medical conditions if they so choose.
Scratch-off lottery ticket would help with breast cancer fight – FOX 35 News Orlando.
