Dubai: An Abu Dhabi salesman who won Dh7 million in the Big Ticket Abu Dhabi raffle on Wednesday said he will spend part of the money on treatment for his friend whose kidneys have failed.
Mohammad Kunhi Mayyala, an Indian expat, said his friend Abu Bakr, also Indian, has been on dialysis for around six months after both his kidneys failed. Abu Bakr was also a salesman in the shop where Mayyala works, in an Arab clothing store in Bani Yas Mall.
“Abu Bakr is like my brother. I want to save him, I want to get him treated in India, where he is now,” Mayyala, who is from the southern Indian state of Kerala, said.
Mayyala, 42, added that he also plans to help his extended family meet some of their needs.
“I want to start a business and renovate my house, which is in Kerala’s Kasaragod district. I will consult my family, who are back home, on how to use the money. There are a lot of patients and homeless people back home who are in need,” he said
Mayyala told Gulf News on Wednesday afternoon he had not yet shared the good news with his wife and two sons, aged six and two.
- Mohammad Kunhi Mayyala | Winner of Big Ticket Abu Dhabi
“I got a call [Wednesday] morning from the raffle organisers saying I won Dh7 million. I thought it was a prank. They called again and when I checked online, the news hit me. I was in shock, I wasn’t expecting to win. I’ve bought the raffle ticket before a few times, each time sharing the Dh500 price of the ticket with friends. This time I bought the ticket all on my own,” he said.
Mayyala, who has been working in the UAE for around 15 years, said his friends and colleagues here are very happy for him.
“Everyone has been congratulating me all day. Of course, I’m very happy too!” he said.
Last month’s winner, who is also from India, won Dh12 million in the monthly draw. All the seven other winners in Wednesday’s draw won Dh100,000 each. Four of them are from India, one is Kenyan and two are Pakistani.
Big Ticket is the largest and longest-running monthly raffle draw for cash prizes and luxury cars in Abu Dhabi. The tickets can be purchased online or at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Ain Duty Free and City Terminal Abu Dhabi. Each ticket is priced at Dh500 — there is also a buy-two-get-one-free scheme.
