Phuket house will cost 100 baht for lucky winner

PHUKET CITY: The top prize in this year’s Red Cross Fair raffle will be nothing less than a new home, it was announced yesterday.

In past years the top prize has always been a car or truck, but this year the Red Cross is upping the ante.

“I am sure no province in Thailand has ever dared to give away as big a reward as this before. But we are Phuket, so why not?” Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop said.

At yesterday’s press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall to announce details of the fair, Gov Wichai was joined by his wife Taisika, who serves as president of the Phuket chapter of the Thai Red Cross Society.

There are Thai Red Cross Society chapters in all Thai provinces, with wives of governors customarily serving as chairwomen.

This year’s Red Cross Fair will take place at Saphan Hin for 10 days starting December 26.

Entrance is free and there is always a wide variety of games, entertainment and free medical services, such as testing for high blood pressure and diabetes.

In addition to the top prize of a detached home covering 60 square wah, prizes will include a Toyota Vigo truck, five motorcycles, five flat screen televisions, five large refrigerators, bicycles, fans and much more.

Last year, proceeds from the sale of 100-baht raffle tickets generated 3 million baht, leaving the Red Cross with just over 1 million baht in profit after costs were deducted, Gov Wichai said.

“This year we expect ticket sales to be much higher because of such a large grand prize,” he said.

The lucky winner would end up with a new home for just 100 baht (approx US$2.94), he said.

Remarkably, nobody came forward to claim last year’s top prize, a Toyota Vigo valued at 650,000 baht.

The pick-up truck was later auctioned off in mid-March.

The governor urged private sector parties willing to donate prizes for the raffle to contact the Phuket Red Cross (Tel: 076-211 766; 081-979 1766) or any local government administrative office.

— Kitima Pornmongkhonwat