A DONATED Caterpillar skid-steer loader was sold to the highest bidder for charity during an unreserved Ritchie Bros auction held in Dubai last month (June). Its full proceeds went to the Dubai-based Foresight, a non-profit organisation, helping its aim of finding a cure for blindness and improving the lives of people with sight loss in the UAE.
The machine, donated by Southwest Middle East, was an unused 2009 model and was sold in conjunction with Ritchie Bros Auctioneers and Mohamed Abdulrahman Al Bahar. During the three-day unreserved auction, more than 2,300 construction, transport and agricultural equipment items and trucks were sold to a large international crowd, bidding both online and on-site in Jebel Ali.
“We are a very small organisation working hard to make a big difference to people’s lives and we are extremely grateful for this unexpected and exciting support,” said Katy Newitt, chairwoman of Foresight. “The construction industry is a major part of Dubai’s economy so we are delighted that the auction of this digger will bring benefits to people who are coping with sight loss in the UAE and help give hope to people all over the world who have hereditary eye disease.” Katy is visually impaired.
“The auction was very exciting and fast paced,” said Sally Prosser of Foresight. “Typically lots are sold in 25 to 30 seconds but the bidding went on for about 90 seconds on the Cat skid steer to raising an incredible $30,000 to help fight blindness. We were really overwhelmed by the generosity of all involved including the donors Southwest, Ritchie Bros and especially the bidder who said his father had lost his sight so the cause was poignant to him.”