RALEIGH – Michael Tyndall, a 51-year-old handyman from Whitakers in Nash County, claimed the top prize in the $1,000 a Week for Life! game and will get $52,000 a year for the rest of his life.

“This is like winning a salary every year,” Tyndall said. “It’s basically my retirement.”

Tyndall purchased the lucky $2 ticket at the Journigan’s Food Stores on N.C. 43 in Whitakers on Sunday evening.

“I walked in and told the clerk to give me two winning tickets,” Tyndall said. “Well, she gave me one. It feels good to win. Really good.”

Tyndall is the latest player to claim the top prize in the $1,000 a Week for Life! game, which is part of a series of four instant games offering the chance to win as much as $5,000 a week for life. The tickets are available for $1, $2, $5, and $10 per play. A top prize is structured in annual payments that continue for a winner’s entire life. The guaranteed value of the prize is at least 20 years of payments to a winner or the winner’s estate. The guaranteed value of the $1,000 a Week for Life! game is $1,040,000. Top prize winners can also choose to claim their winnings as a lump sum with a cash value equal to the guaranteed prize amount.

Tyndall chose the annuity option, which provides an after tax value of $36,010 a year. He received his first check on Tuesday. He says he plans to use a portion of his winnings to pay bills, go camping and help others.

As of Tuesday afternoon, one top prize and many other prizes remain unclaimed in the $1,000 a Week for Life! game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion for the state last year. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how $35.8 million in lottery funds have made a difference for specific education programs in Nash County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.