Remember Lei’a Misa? Samoa’s youngest dialysis patient?
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We featured her plight last week where her and her mother called for help so she could continue receiving dialysis treatment.
Last weekend, the Samoa Outrigger Association gathered at Mulinu’u to fundraise for young Lei’a. Yesterday, members of the
Association visited Lei’a’s family at Matautu to present $1,010 they raised last Saturday.
The family members were in tears upon receiving the money.
Johnwilliam Sala, the President of the Laumei Outrigger Canoe Club, wrote a piece titled “The girl that touched the hearts of rugged men.”
It is published here in full:
On the Samoa Observer’s edition of Wednesday 6th August 2014, it featured a special plea by a young soul for help titled “Lei’a needs your help”
We are a few guys who lead normal lives and have regular jobs during the day and in the evening we meet up at Mulinu’u for Outrigger Canoe Paddling, as a hobby/sport as the Laumei Outrigger Canoe Club.
Serendipity dictates that one would find themselves at the right place at the right time in our Heavenly Father’s grand plan; and it was just this that one of the boys happen to stumble on this particular article.
He was moved by it and brought that particular page of the newspaper to our usual Wednesday post-training relaxation routine with a few cold beers. We all shared the sentiment of which “Fun Fundraise Paddle for Lei’a” was born. We are rugged guys that are usually unorganized but equipped only with faith and the belief that maybe this small gesture can make (even the slightest) difference to one’s life.
Friday 8th August 2014 an open invitation email was sent out to all other clubs in Samoa Outrigger Canoe Association of what these few bleak men hope to do on Saturday 9th August 2014 afternoon.
Even with the extreme short notice, the attendance and support observed on Saturday’s “Fun-Fundraise Paddle for Lei’a” was tremendous and all the paddlers were avid supporters to the cause.
Despite prior commitments as it was Father’s Day weekend, they made sacrifices so they could come and take-part.
It was encouraged that all clubs and their members register any form of amount for the day’s event of which all the registration would be donated to young Lei’a.
We collected $1,010 through various registrations from $5 per junior paddler even up to $50 from the supporters including a special pledge from Praise-the-Lord Charity Group.
The fun fundraise paddle consisted of two races.
Race 1 was from Mulinu’u to Taumeasina and Race 2 the return back to the peninsula. All categories joined up and took part in one go, Team Nafanua Open Mens, Team Nafanua Open Womens, Team Nafanua Social Mix, Team Laumei &
Team Aliyah Open Men Mix, Team Laumei Junior Boys, Team Tautai Open Mens, Team Vaai-Lau-Foe.
The feedback from all the paddlers that attended was astonishing and they are very happy to be a part of Lei’as life. Instead of an ice-challenge, we all simply picked up our paddles, manned our canoes and did a paddling challenge!
Samoa Outrigger Canoe Association features a special type of sport of Outrigger Canoeing, commonly known as “Alo va’a or Alo Paopao”. We take-part in this activity and sport in remembrance of our ancestors whom navigated throughout the Pacific in canoes.
Samoa was affectionately called the Navigator Islands by the explorers because of our sea-faring capabilities in canoes. We welcome anyone and everyone to join Outrigger Canoe paddling in the 6 Local clubs; Aliyah OC Club, Tautai OC
Club, Nafanua OC Club, Vaai-lau-foe OC Club, Pualele OC Club and Laumei OC Club that form Samoa Outrigger Canoe Association. The annual Savai’i Crossing hosted by Pualele OC Club featured all local and visiting clubs a chance to paddle to-and-from Savaii on the last Saturday of May as a charity event for Samoa Cancer Society.
All clubs are also gearing up for Va’ai-Lau-Foe’s Sprint Regatta this coming Saturday that precedes one of the most anticipated event in Outrigger Canoe Paddling calendar; Nafanua OC Club hosting the International Alo Paopao Regatta &
Festival 2014 in September. The sport also has many sponsors and key personnel that always assist in keeping the sport alive and hope to acknowledge all their hard work and encouragement for further success in the sport.
Tuatagaloa Joe Annadale of Sinalei Resort, Jay & Tasi of M & J Ah Fook & Ynot, AJ & Krissy of Samoa Beverage Company & Farmer-Joe, Konrad & Beulah of SMI, Moana & La’auli of Bluebird Transport, Management of Digicel Samoa, Billy &
Rosaline of Milennia Hotel Bar & Restaurant, Management of Bluesky Samoa, Letoa Wenzel Keil of HJ Keil Co. Ltd, Management of Samoa Observer, Management of Sunrise Restaurant.
As a paddling community we hope to share with you the plea by young Lei’a for any form of assistance to her and her family. Every time Lei’a can get her dialysis treatment her life is extended, be part of her life.
We also offer in our prayers Lei’a, her family and all those in need around Samoa and the World that they be blessed and find comfort in their lives.
With great affection – a few rugged men.
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