With the help of Memorial Gifting, the Cashmere Rotary Club, has raised over $1100 for the four members of the Tongan Olympic team stranded in Christchurch.
While some of the team managed to clear Auckland and return to Tonga before the lockdown four of the team were unable to leave because of the lockdown. They are now unable to return home until flights resume, hopefully on the next repatriation flight on 20 October. The team is led by Rotarian and Chef de Mission Mr Amanaki Fakakovikaetau, Vice-President of the Tongan Sports Association and National Olympic committee.
To help relieve the financial burden on the group the Rotary Club created an online collection for donations to the group using the Memorial Gifting website . This website is normally used for collecting online donations in memory of a loved one at funerals has been made available free of charge by MG Director Terry Fullerton who is one of the members of the club to help with the cause.
Despite missing home, the four of us are doing well, says Mr Fakakovikaetau.
“Although we are stranded here, in spirit we are okay.”
Mr Amanaki Fakakovikaetau, centre with Rotarians Stuart Batty,left and Gordon Hooper, right.
