We’re drawn to Oz
Family raffle home to fund TV dream move Down Under
TICKETS Sunderland property
A FAMILY who appeared on TV’s Wanted Down Under are raffling their home to make their dream of moving to Australia come true.
Christine and Paul McDonald, both 42, have been trying to arrange the move since they and sons Luke, 16, and Evan, 13, got a taste for Aussie life when they were on the BBC1 show three years ago.
This year, with their visas finally in place, they put their £ 170,000 fourbedroom house on the market in March – just as the nation went into lockdown.
That put the brakes on their hopes of selling up and moving out, so they decided to raffle the Sunderland property instead, at £2.50 per ticket.
Christine, an NHS therapist specialising in young people with mental health problems, said: “We’re really nervous. We’ve managed to sell 27,000 tickets ourselves but we need to sell a lot more.
“It’s taken a long time to get our visas because you have to apply to an area where they need your particular skills.
“It’s all done on a points system and we’ve finally been able to get visas to move to Adelaide – but only if we can sell the house.”
The couple have worked hard through the pandemic and ambulance worker Paul has contracted coronavirus.
Christine said: “It’s hit him really hard. He is struggling to walk up the stairs and he’s really fit and well normally.”
But the couple are focusing on their future. Christine said: “When we hand over the keys to our house that’s when it will feel real. It’s the final piece of the puzzle. Borders aren’t open at the moment but we can apply for an extension if your job is needed. The boys are so excited, they want to go now.” She said 5% of the total raised in the raffle will be donated to the Bradley Lowery Foundation, which supports families raising money for treatment not available on the NHS.
If the raffle does not meet its target, the draw will still go ahead and the winner will receive 75% of money raised.