March 23, 2010 -- Growing up, Middletown natives James (Jimmy) and Robert (Bob) Hartigan were used to sharing everything. Now, the brothers have one more thing they will be sharing: $5,000 a month for the rest of their lives.

The brothers won $5,000 a month for the rest of their lives from the CT Lottery earlier this week by playing "Win For Life, 16th Edition," and have agreed to split the top prize. Jimmy, who lives in Middletown, purchased the ticket at Cumberland Farms in Cromwell. As soon as he realized he'd just won the "for life" top prize, he called his brother Bob, a Waterbury resident.

"He said that I needed to get over to his house right away," recalls Bob. "It scared the life out of me," noting that he'd never heard a tone like that in his brother's voice before.

It was, however, good news, as the brother's claimed the $5,000 a month for life prize together, and will split the winnings. Every month for the rest of their lives, they will each receive a check for half the amount of the win.

The Hartigans are the 47th winners in the CT Lottery's history of the $5,000 a month for life version of the Win for Life Game, and the FIRST to claim a top prize in the game this year.