Scooters raffled off for tsunami victims

BY MELANIE LOUDEN

A Meadowbank family is doing their bit to help victims of the Samoan tsunami.

The Pretorius family is running a raffle for their two scooters and will give the proceeds to charity.

Hans Pretorius says seeing the aftermath of the tragedy on TV affected them all.

"It touches you when things like this happen.

"It’s not just the
tsunami. It’s the whole nature thing – that people can lose everything without any control.

"What turned me was hearing that a whole family of five generations were wiped out. It’s so sad that five generations of people are just gone."

Mr Pretorius, who has always had motorbikes, says the family bought the scooters in June last year after his wife
Rachael decided she wanted to scooter to work.

"She wanted to get out of the car and get some excitement."

Mrs Pretorius then moved up to motorbikes and the scooters sat in a garage full of vehicles until the family decided to sell them.

After hearing about the tsunami they agreed to raffle them off and give the money to charity instead.

The family go to Greenlane Christian Centre and hope to get fellow congregation member Maungakiekie MP Sam Lotu-Iiga, or a police officer, to draw the winner.

Mr Pretorius says the money will be given to Mr Lotu-Iiga, who is a member of the Samoa Tsunami 2009 Appeal Charitable Trust committee.

The 50cc Urban R4 scooters are in as new condition and riders do not need a motorbike licence to drive them.

Mr Pretorius says they will be ideal for anyone who needs something cheap to run and easy to park.

Tickets for the blue and red scooters are $10 each. To buy one call 521-7244 or Rachael on 021-253-6800.

- © Fairfax NZ News