Ah, to endure the dilemmas of the rich and pivileged.

Ah, to endure the dilemmas of the rich and pivileged. Like which sports car to drive?

Or which luxurious condo to spend vacation time? Or where to fly on a private jet?

Those are just the kind of problems and difficult decisions being offered by the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation in its first BC Vacation Home Lottery.

While the Foundation has been involved with lotteries before, in partnership with other hospitals, this is its first solo venture.

"This is a great opportunity to tell the story of Royal Columbian Hospital," says Adrienne Bakker, the President and CEO of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.

That story is Royal Columbian Hospital is one of the busiest in the province. It serves one-third of British Columbia's population and receives about 61,000 emergency visits and 30,000 admissions every year. Proceeds from the lottery will be used to support emergency and trauma services at the hospital.

"Advancing excellence and quality in health care is our first priority," says Bakker. "This lottery represents a chance to make a difference in the lives of our patients."

It could also change the lives of the winners. The three grand prizes are fully-furnished vacation homes, including one in Kelowna which also comes with a speed boat, a 2011 Land Rover R2, a couple's membership at the Kelowna Springs Golf Club, clubs to play with and $100,000. The other homes are in Parksville and Whistler and also come with cash prizes.

In total there are more, 1,700 prizes worth a total of $3.2 million to be won including sports cars, vacations in Fiji, Greece, Africa, Tuscany and Paris, where the winner will have a front-row seat on the Champs Elysée to the finale of the Tour de France.

While there's no shortage of big-prize lotteries to tempt people's fantasies and support a cause along the way, Bakker says it's the early bird prize of 50 hours of flying time on a Cessna Citation private jet for the winner and six companions that sets the Vacation Home Lottery apart.

"It's very unique," says Bakker. "No one else has this amazing prize. It really gives people who buy a ticket a chance to dream about where they want to go."

Getting there will be half the fun, aboard the spacious, well-appointed jet with roomy leather seats, a lavatory, and plenty of storage space for luggage, garment bags, golf clubs or other sporting equipment.

And when the winner and six guests reach their chosen destination, their luxurious getaway can continue with $15,000 spending money.

The deadline to get tickets eligible for the early bird draw is midnight, March 17. That draw will be held April 6.

The deadline for all tickets is midnight, April 7. Draws for the rest of the prizes will be conducted April 26-28.

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