Kindness turns lives around

Good samaritan Tony Fallahi started something bigger than he could ever have imagined with a simple act of kindness.

The west Auckland taxi driver was on the job when he picked up Dean Viall.

Mr Viall, 30, and wife Sacha, 34, had their lives turned upside down about a year ago when she contracted an infection caused by a common coldsore virus and suffered a rare brain inflammation.

That put the former accountant in a coma and she is now in a wheelchair and struggling to get her life back in order.

The couple faced multiple financial hurdles when they had trouble securing a benefit and Mr Viall, who worked as a recruitment consultant before caring for his wife fulltime, has been declared bankrupt.

Mr Viall met Mr Fallahi shortly after abandoning his broken down Daihatsu Mira and calling a cab home.

He explained his situation to Mr Fallahi and even offered to sell the car to him for $500, saying he couldn’t afford to have it repaired or towed away.

Mr Fallahi returned to the car a short time later and arranged for it to be towed to a mechanic and fixed.

"I just felt these people needed help," he says.

"In our community we believe we should give money to people who need assistance."

Other offers flooded in after news of his generosity was made public and the Vialls have now taken ownership of a mobility van thanks to a grant from the Lotteries Grants Board.

The vehicle has a lift in the back for Mrs Viall and the front seat is electric so she can use it.

Mr Viall plans to sell his newly repaired car and pay Mr Fallahi back.

"After 14 months of despair and loss, frustration and failure, hardship and unfairness we can finally say we’ve made it through a massive challenge and we’re getting our life back again," he says.

"We can look to our future instead of worrying about each day’s issues."

A special screening of Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in 3D will be held at SkyCity cinemas at St Lukes this Saturday at 2pm to raise money for the Vialls.

Tickets, a Coke and popcorn will cost $20 and the full amount from each will go directly to the couple for medical expenses and ongoing costs.

Tickets are available at www.skycitycinemas.co.nz/viall.cmsx, by calling 302-0002, or at the cinema.

- © Fairfax NZ News