The proud new owner of a 1956 Bel Air Sports Coupe drove his new baby away from the High River Hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Garnet Jeffs lives in Calgary and bought a single $20 ticket in the Hospital Foundations car raffle and his ticket was pulled from the drum Saturday night.

(l-to-r) Gail and Emile Blokland, Garnet Jeffs winner of the car raffle, Michael Brown, Hospital Foundation Executive Director)

He says he was caught off guard when he got the phone call.

"I actually was in a local saloon in Calgary, a block away from my home and I got a call from Michael (Brown, Executive Director of the Foundation)," he says. "I didn't believe him, I thought it was a prank call because I never win anything."

He thanked Emile and Gail Blokland for donating the car to raise money for the Cancer Care Centre and says he may do the same thing with his 1975 Corvette when he decides to "hang up the skates".

Jeffs says while he lives in the city now he remembers the many years he lived in High River.

"My dad was in the Air Force and when we came back from the Charlottes in, I think we landed here in 1948, I mean I was a baby really, I was born in '44," he says. "I went to the school here (what is now Spitzee elementary) you know grade one and grew up with all those kids that you'll see in the photographs (in the school.) So I've got a lot of memories here, lots."

Garnet Jeffs behind the wheel of his new car.

He says he was happy give to a great cause.