House competition to benefit charity

The Ulster Cancer Foundation will benefit from a Northern Ireland man's unusual attempt to sell his house. Alan Cooke is entering his house in a competition in which the winner can win the house worth £600,000, Alan will sell his house and the charity stands to make £300,000.

“We recently decided we would like to sell our house – but were concerned that we wouldn't be able to, given the recent 'cooling' in the NI housing market. So that's why we came up with the idea of a competition. If it works – we'll be able to sell the house but also raise a lot of money for the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) and with a bit of luck – a first time buyer will also get a new beautiful home,” said homeowner Alan Cooke.

The competition is literally kid’s play. To win the house all people have to do is go on the internet (www.comberhouse.com) and try calculate how many lego bricks are in the illustration provided. In the words of that endangered species, the estate agent, ‘the house is situated within close proximity of the bustling town of Comber and just 9 miles from Belfast this superb rectory style home built just over 4 yrs ago, enjoys an attractive mature setting in what is undoubtedly the areas most prestigious address.’

The cost of entering the competition is £35. Several house raffles with a charitable angle have fallen foul of lottery legislation but Alan Cooke believes this event differs because it is a competition.

Joyce Savage, Head of Appeals & Marketing, UCF said, “We are delighted that Alan has nominated the Ulster Cancer Foundation as a beneficiary from his house sale. Every year we need to raise almost £4m in order to continue our vital work for cancer patients and their families. All funds raised for UCF are spent locally providing information, care and support services for the 55,000 people affected by cancer in Northern Ireland.”

The competition will run from today until 10 January 2009 and the winner will be announced on 17 January 2009.

www.comberhouse.com