DSF bonanza: Payback time

Dubai: When delivery truck driver I.R. Sreenivasan underwent a kidney transplant in 2001, his relatives and colleagues at Spinneys forked out Dh23,000 for his treatment.

Now, he is ready to give back in kind, after he struck gold with the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) on February 9, when he won Dh100,000 in cash and a Lexus 4x4 worth Dh250,000.

"With this prize money I can finally return the favour and also support my sister who donated one of her kidneys to me," said Sreenivasan, 47.

His employers also forked out Dh40,000 for his treatment.

The father of two has plans to sell the Lexus and has earmarked part of the money for the Children's Care Orphanage in Kerala.

Sreenivasan has been living in Dubai for 29 years and has consistently set aside Dh200 for a chance to win in the daily raffles. In the last 15 years, DSF raffles have awarded 542kg of gold bars, more than 1,000 luxury cars — including 33 Rolls Royce, Lexus and Nissan models — and millions of cash prizes and gifts.

In 2001, Sreenivasan underwent a kidney transplant in India, with the organ donated by his sister Beena. "Now I can take care of my sister, too. My two children can have better education and I can finally pay for all the treatments and medication," he said.

His message to the winners: "Spend your money wisely and donate some to charity to help the poor and the needy because it's a good thing to do and can bring smiles to those who are unfortunate."

He also thanked the DSF organisers. "I am really proud of DSF for this wonderful event."

— The writer is a student of journalism at Dubai Men's College