WOWS Tonga
Walk on Walk Strong
Saturday 15th, August 2009
The Tae Kami Foundation and the Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga (CCFT) would like to invite you to participate in the inaugural Walk on Walk Strong Tonga Event….
16 August 2009, marks the anniversary of passing away of Tae Luisa
Kami who struggled through a long journey with cancer and inspired
many in Tonga and the region with her positive spirit and certainty
that God had a plan despite the deteriorating condition and the
incredible physical challenges. She was convinced that God would
either “heal me and let me live on or heal me and take me home”
Tae had a list of dreams that she asked us to continue including the
provision of a room or facility in Tonga for cancer kids and their
families (and other kids going through long term medical issues) as
provided in Auckland by the Child Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.
The Tae Kami Foundation is set up to deal with Tae’s dreams – we will
work with the Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga (CCFT) to ensure a
facility is developed in Tonga.
How do I get involved?
1. Raise at least a $1 per person from your family, office,
friends or
even your school.
2. WALK With Us – in memory of all the kids who have been
called home
and for improving the experience and success of all those who are with
us now and will walk this journey in future.
Time : 8:30am at the Tungi Arcade ground. Walk to QSC wharf and back
to Tungi Arcade.
Dress Code: Rainbow colors / bright colors – lets celebrate life. .
End of the Walk: Some music and presentation
Contact : sinakami@gmail.com
or in Tupou ‘Atiola ph: (00-676) 21-628 (m)7747163
_____________________________________________________________________________
From Tae's Website :
27 August 2008 - Where to now? Tae's wishes...
Its a week since we celebrated Tae's passing and we have already
installed the memorial stone.Tomorrow the last of the contingent from
New Zealand leave Tonga and I am off to Fiji on Friday. Sina and the
girls will eventually join me in Fiji when they are ready.
My memories of the past 10 days are blurred. At times it seemed like
several days have merged into one long stretch of actvities where home
was abuzz as hundreds of people converged in preparation, celebration
and then the clean up. Our farewelling Tae is also bundled in an
array of meals, music and presentations as well as the mingling of
smiles and tears. In the end we are all aware that we have been part
of something special and Tae was that rare person who inspired us to
believe again - that we can find magic in the mundane and that
somewhere within our inner sceptic is a soul that responds to hope.
Even if we wanted to be observers we were all swept off our feet by
her passion for life whether here on earth or, eternal.
What a week but even more so ...what a girl. I don't think I could add
anymore then what has been said of Tae. It is not often that the words
"cancer" and "blessings" make the same sentence let alone,
repeated
throughout a story, but that has been Tae's story. While I would give
it all away in a moment to have my daughter here today, we can ponder
through the pain of losing her and still be thankful that we were
blessed with Tae for 15 years and that her courage and faith in the
face of adversity has inspired thousands both here in Tonga and
abroad. Tae counted her blessings - we thought she was kidding when as
a 13 year old she called cancer a gift that came coupled with the
inner strength to deal with it and the assurance that God had a plan
for her. She stuck with that belief right through to the end and was
so looking forward to heaven... assured that she had fought her
battles and won and it was time to go home.
We have had some interest here and overseas on helping move forward
some of Tae's dreams on a practical legacy. Several times in the past
6 months we thought she was about to go, and she would discuss the
things she wanted us to pursue once she had gone including the
following;
1. A Tae Kami Scholarship for students who need financial support at
Queen Salote College. We are aiming for an amount of ToP$10,000 that
can be put in a term deposit with the interest providing for 2
scholarships of ToP$500 / year. ($500 will provide uniforms and school
fees ) We hope to have something launched to start in 2009.
Update: July 24, 2009 – we are currently sponsored 7 students
at QSC for the year 2009) with support from our friend from Hawaii Mr. Takamaya.
2. A Tae Kami Resource Room for the
Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga
(CCFT) that will provide a special place for parents and kids who are
grappling with cancer. The room will have books, toys, videos, a
couple of computers, comfortable seating, bathroom, etc. This will
either be attached to the hospital or to a facility run by the CCFT.
We have received an initial contribution of US$4000 from the
Christiansen family in the USA for this activity and interest from
others in working together
Update : July 24, 2009 : Walk on Walk Strong Tonga , Aug 15th,
2009 – walk to remember and fundraise for the room. Now the dream is to help
build/renovate the house if ministry of health gives the CCFT the bldg and land behind the Vaiola hospital in Tonga.
3.A Private Hospital - a 15 bed hospital with a surgery and
communications center that can focus on supporting existing public
hospital facilities by providing specialist care for special cases as
well as services from a broad network of international and local
doctors. A communications center will link doctors to overseas
networks for video conferencing and consultations. This might seem a
big ask... but there maybe possibilities for providing better services
in small markets where there is a real vacuum... maybe a new mission
here and we are open for ideas.
Update : July 24, 2009 : Have discussed this with friends and Tae's
doctors in NZ - We have learned to Dream Big because God is Big.. and it can be done.. it might take years but its possible.
4. Finally a Walk Strong Foundation for Pacific Kids who need special
medical treatment - which focuses on fundraising and supporting
initiatives / organizations that provide support for kids with special
medical needs in Pacific Island countries. We are brainstorming an
appropriate model but hope it will provide new funds for special cases
and a vehicle for appropriate facilities etc. More on this later but
again, ideas and volunteers welcome.
Update, July 2009
: WOWS TONGA, 2009 is the beginning. We are hoping to introduce the
walks to other pacific Island countries to raise funds for the kids in there
own country.
The first 2 initiatives (Scholarship and Child Cancer resource room)
are quite achieveable in the short term. The final 2 iniatives are
still in the early stages of thinking but Tae is determined that kids
and Pacific families do not have to put up with what we have been
through.
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