A BASINGSTOKE family has raised £18,000 so far as part of a crowdfunding prize draw to support a cause that is close to their heart.

Candice and Jon Kotze and their two daughters Ava and Chloe are moving to Australia in January and are hoping to raise money for Spotlight UK by giving away their beloved VW campervan through a crowdfunding prize draw.

The family, originally from South Africa, spent five years living in Basingstoke and were hoping to make more than £18,000 through the crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the Popley charity.

While launching the prize draw, Candice said any money raised above the £18,000 will be donated to Spotlight UK, where Ava used to attend dance classes.

Their plan was to refund all the participants if £18,000 was not raised.

READ MORE: Basingstoke family launch prize draw to win beloved campervan

The family has now confirmed that the target of £18,000 has reached, which means "the draw 100 per cent goes ahead".

"We are now filling our charity pots up with every new entry," Candice said.

"We have decided to go all in and draw our winner on New Year's Day, which means we only have three days to get as much raised for our charities as possible."  

The mother-of-two said the family has enjoyed many holidays in the campervan, including a three-month trip around Europe.

She said: “As a family of four we have loved every minute of owning our campervan. Our girls, aged seven and nine, have experienced more in their young years than most adults have. Travelling is something we have fallen in love with, and we know there are so many others out there who would give anything to experience van life.

“Having a campervan was not just great for travelling but also for days out or weekend breaks. It made outdoor life so much better than we ever imagined.”

The family, who are living temporarily in London with Candice’s sister before moving to Australia in January, is now hoping to make someone else’s dream come true through the prize draw as well as raise money for charity.

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Candice, whose daughters used to attend Marnel Junior School, said they chose to support Spotlight UK after Ava enjoyed dance lessons with the charity.

She said: “She used to dance with them and performed at their fairs and at a show at The Anvil. We loved everything about what they were and what they are for and all the families they help and it touched our hearts.”

The family has always dreamed of living in Australia to be by the sea but enjoyed using their campervan in the interim while waiting for visas.

Candice said: “With the cost of living going through the roof at the moment, more and more people are breaking the mould of owning a house and a car and living in a perfect location; they are trading it all in for living in a van making different locations their home, every day.

"As the saying goes, ‘home is where the heart is’, so for more and more people family and time are becoming a priority.

“Our experience of van life has been incredible and if we can give someone the opportunity to experience it, then we will.”

The family is unable to take their campervan, named Ladybug, with them, so instead of selling it decided to set up the prize draw with one lucky winner becoming the new owner.

Tickets for the draw are £3 each or £10 for four entries and £50 for 25 entries.

For more information and to enter the draw visit crowdfunder.co.uk/p/lifeisforfamily-vw-campervan-prize-draw.