After 109 red exercise balls lumbered down the beginner’s slope Saturday at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, Jamie Lister was a happy person. She just didn’t know it for a while.

Lister, owner of Jamie’s Jewelry, 125 E. 10th St., had won $5,000. She was the lucky person whose ticket combination matched the numbers on the first two balls through the finishing chute at the Red Ball Express.

The Red Ball Express, in its 13th year, is a fundraiser put on by the four local Rotary clubs. It raised money for Rotary causes and for several local nonprofits – basically, whichever ones want to get in on the act.

Lister was camping in Utah over the weekend, out of cellphone range and didn’t return until Monday afternoon. That’s when she got the news.

“Obviously, pretty excited and surprised,” Lister said of her reaction. “You never really think you’re going to win.”

This year, 5,886 tickets were sold (Lister bought five), meaning $29,430 was raised, said Doug Reynolds, chairman of this year’s Red Ball and a Daybreak Rotary member. Prize money and expenses are paid for by event sponsors.

The other Rotaries involved were High Noon, Rotary Club of Durango and the Rotary Club of Pine River Valley in Bayfield.

“Another good year,” said John Francis, event organizer and a Daybreak Rotary member. He noted that over its 13 years, the Red Ball Express has raised a total of $430,000.

Rotary Clubs and nonprofits – nine nonprofits were involved this year – sell tickets for $5.

Each ticket gets a two-number combination, say 98 and 11. If the first two balls down the slope and into the finish chute are 98 and 11, that ticket wins. (Those were the actual winning balls’ numbers this year.)

Lister got $5,000 for first. Lauren Ziesel, whose ticket matched the next two balls (5 and 49), got $2,000 for second. Amy Hewitt (19 and 76) won $1,000 for third.

johnp@durangoherald.com