The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Cash prize to be drawn after bid to raffle Mearns mansion fails
Charity: Plan to raffle £1.7 million home was pulled as ticket sales disappoint
A cash raffle is to be drawn in the Mearns after a homeowner who wanted to give away her £1.7 million house failed to sell enough tickets.
Donna Pirie had offered her six-bedroom home near Laurencekirk as top prize in the unusual draw, which she hoped would raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.
With en-suites in each bedroom and a bespoke kitchen fitted with top of the range appliances, Donna pledged £5 from every £25 ticket to the Yard charity, which provides adventure play services for youngsters with disabilities.
But the plug was pulled on the home raffle after poor tickets sales, despite the closing date being twice extended.
A huge cash prize now awaits the winner of today’s draw, with three other entrants due to win £10,000.
Donna said: “I have taken the decision not to do the draw live on Facebook, as the main prize is a cash prize.
“The charity, the Yard, will receive a great donation thanks to everyone who entered.
“They are absolutely delighted with all the support as this donation will be a huge boost for them.”
Donna decided Johnston Lodge, her home of the past eight years was, too big once her children moved out.
She hoped to hit a £750,000 charity target and offered the winner four years of running costs for the property.
The raffle deadline was originally scheduled for early last December before it was extended again until March, but without success.
A random number selector will be used to conduct the draw which will be witnessed by a solicitor and representatives of the Yard.
The Yard is an award-winning charity running adventure play services for disabled children, young people and their families in the east of Scotland.
It offers disabled children and their siblings the chance to experience creative, adventurous indoor and outdoor play in a well-supported environment.
gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk