Million dollar views, a three bedroom house, a B&B on 10 acres of land and a chance to help one man beat the banks - all for $100.
For single father of two, Ashley McKinnon, this isn't a get rich quick scheme, it's a raffle to give a fresh start for his family.
"I get 5,000 people who enter, I've covered my debts - the bank gets paid, I move on and start a new life and someone comes here starts a new life as well," Ashley said.
Ashley's wife Leah died four years ago after fighting a losing battle with breast cancer, which progressed to her brain. Nothing could be done in Australia, so Ashley and Leah funded themselves, twice, to the United States for specialist treatment.
It worked but months later Leah died of liver failure, a side affect of her long battle with the disease.
Ashley was left to pay an $80,000 medical bill. He thought the Australian Government would help, but he was rejected for assistance.
The $80,000 quickly blew out to $160,000 and with his mortgage he's now in debt $400,000 and fighting bankruptcy.
"I'll probably have a month or so to go and we'll just have to walk away," Ashley said.
Ashley's sick of fighting and wants to go. But rather than hand over his $650,000 property to cover a $400,000 debt, he's having one last roll of the dice hoping to receive 5000 $100 entries to win his home.
To enter you need to design a page promoting cyber knife, the treatment that cured his wife's cancer.
It's an extremely accurate form of radiation therapy, available around the world but not in Australia because of our small population.
"I've seen this thing treat children, people with spinal tumours, brain tumours, prostate cancer, it usually only takes a day. We donate all this money to cancer research, why don't we have this treatment here for people who need it now," Ashley said.
Only two things stand in the way of someone winning Ashley's home - a lack of entries or a $500,000 for his home.
Either way, entries will be refunded and Ashley and the kids will be leaving.
Ashley's children Alec and Rebecca will be judging the winner.
The family is sad to see the house go, but are eager to start a life without crippling debt.
How to enter
To enter to win Ashley's house go to his ebay page Win a house near Byron
You can also email Ashley at amackinnon69@hotmail.com
Entries close May 31
http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/7067320/general/house-raffle
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Interesting point, why don't we have this specialist cancer treatment here in 'developed' economically 'robust' Australia?
Have to make room for refugees I guess.
Fri 16 Apr 2010 - 8:21