A roofer who needs a van is asking people to vote for him in a competition where he could win prizes worth £11,000.
Dean Gerstel has been shortlisted as one of ten finalists in Motors.co.uk's 'Most Deserving Business' contest. Among the prizes is Dean's dream item - a Ford Transit Panel van.
Dean, 42, of Gill Street, Hoyland, owns DMG Roofing and Property Repairs and currently uses his family car, a Vauxhall Zafira, for his business.
His day starts when he has to remove his two boys' car seats and any other clutter from the Vauxhall. Then he folds down the back seats so he can make space for his tools.
He said: "It's no easy task. My tools are hidden away in various places around the house, under the kitchen worktops, in the loft, some in the shed. Once all the tools are on board, I drive to the garage where I keep my ladders and pop them on top of the car." He then squashes in any materials he needs.
At the end of the day, the same process happens in reverse.
On top of this, Dean holds down three jobs. From Monday to Wednesday he is a stay at home dad, on Thursdays and Fridays he does his roofing work, and each weekday he leaves the house at 5am to drive to his third job as a cleaner.
He cannot afford his own van having pumped his money and savings into starting the roofing business in 2012.
The Motors.co.uk competition also includes an 'Encouraging Growth Prize' of £3,000 which Dean would use to expand his business and also set up a specialised cleaning business, 'Hard2Reach Cleaning.'
Entry into the competition depended on nomination and the identity of Dean's nominator remains a mystery.
He said: "I am simply a man working hard to do his part in providing for his family. A little assistance could make a huge difference to us."
To be in with a chance of winning the competition, Dean needs to be in the top three public votes by Friday May 31. You can vote for him at http://mostdeserving.motors.co.uk/business/
