“People were telling me I’d won the (Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust) raffle for the Ford Ranger but I just didn’t believe it . . . that sort of stuff never happens to me.”

EHRT had put the Gisborne Motors-sponsored Ford Ranger up for raffle to raise funds to support the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter, drawing the winner earlier this month at the 2024 EHRT Bayleys Charity Auction gala.

“I’d always been waiting for that big Lotto win but, of course, that has never happened,” says Daniel. “Hearing I’d won the ute was amazing news!”

With just 2000 entries available at $50 a pop, Daniel thought the odds looked pretty good and quickly snapped up five tickets.

“I was just scrolling on social media when it popped up and thought that, even if my name didn’t come out of the hat, entering would be a great donation so it was a win-win situation,” he says.

And as a keen motocross rider and president of the Gisborne Motorcycle Sports Club, Daniel knew he was supporting a good cause.

“Obviously we have a big focus on safety but things do happen and we’ve had the rescue helicopter team out to meets more than once,” he says.

“We tend to race on farmland, off the beaten track, which is not the best place to be if you’ve broken a bone or two, so seeing the helicopter arrive is a huge relief.”

Until his big win Daniel was driving a Toyota Hilux which was only nine years old, but as a builder running his own Fogarty Construction company, he’d clocked up a fair few kilometres.

So he was really looking forward to picking up the 2024 Ranger XLT – valued at over $68,000 – to put through its paces.

“I was looking for a new vehicle but everything’s a big tight, so this is going to make a big difference,” he says. “It’s been a tough year in many ways so winning this prize is huge for me.”

In a relatively short timeframe EHRT sold more than three-quarters of the available tickets which, after the reserve and costs were paid, secured a fantastic surplus to support the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter service.

“It created a donation opportunity that most people could afford,” says EHRT acting chair Ian Parker. “And our wonderful community of supporters really responded to that.”

Daniel headed to the EHRT hangar to accept the keys from Gisborne Motors Ford Motors dealer principal Rod Husband, who says supplying the Ford Ranger was just part of a longstanding relationship between Gisborne Motors and EHRT.

As well as applying a special charity discount for the Ranger, the company also provides servicing support and sharpens its pencil when EHRT manages to secure funds for new vehicles.

It’s a high-profile relationship they are extremely proud to be part of as the rescue team provides benefit to the whole community, Rod Husband says.

“After all, almost everyone would know someone who has been assisted by their outstanding services.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Fogarty’s new 4WD double-cab ute has a 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine which, he says, will offer a bit more pulling power when towing his motorcycle trailer.

“But I might have to keep it away from the work site for a while to prevent it getting scratched,” he says, “at least until the ‘newness’ wears off!”

CAPTION: A BIG WIN: “Winning this prize is huge for me,” says Daniel Fogarty (foreground), who was at the hangar to accept the fabulous Ford Ranger from Gisborne Motors dealer principal Rod Husband (left) and Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust acting chair Ian Parker.