RALEIGH – Robert Bryson, a health club owner from High Point, gave his heart the workout of a lifetime. He won $1 million instantly playing the lottery’s 20X the Money instant game.

Sitting in his car outside the Kangaroo Express on Westchester Drive on Friday, Bryson scratched the ticket and realized he won $1 million. He drove home immediately to share the good news with his wife, Leigh. They spent the weekend looking at the ticket.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Bryson said as he collected his winnings at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. “It’s hit me. I’m stunned.”

Rather than claim the $1 million prize in annuity payments of $50,000 a year for 20 years, Bryson chose the $600,000 cash option. The after-tax prize value totaled $408,003. Bryson said that winning the lottery will allow his family to save for the future and take a vacation.

As of Wednesday morning, two top prizes of $1 million and many other prizes remain unclaimed in the 20X the Money game.

Ticket sales have enabled the lottery to raise more than $2.6 billion for education initiatives statewide. Since the lottery began through June 30, 2012, Guilford County education programs received more than $127.6 million in lottery funds. By law, those funds pay for teachers’ salaries in grades K-3, school construction, prekindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.