The Pacific community in Wellington came out in force last night to support Stand for Samoa, a concert raising funds for families affected by the measles epidemic in Samoa.
Sophia Uele, one of the co-directors of Tautua Dance Photo: RNZ Pacific
"As a Mum of two young girls, seeing the number of young children dying in Samoa has been heartbreaking," said Sophia Uele of Tautua Dance, one of the organisers of the event.
She said she and her partner felt raising funds for Samoa could be one way to help, and once the call went out for performers, people generously said yes.
Tautua Dance students in Porirua, taking part in Stand for Samoa concert. Photo: RNZ Pacific
"The amount of love and support that they have all shown us, when this only [went] out to everyone maybe last week to see who would be free to come along - and we have about 15 acts," she said.
"We are just so humbled and blessed that we have an amazing community supporting our people."
#StandforSamoa event. Pacific community in #Porirua come out to support #Samoa. pic.twitter.com/CbC0xnwDhH
— Moera TuilaepaTaylor (@Mtuilaepataylor) December 10, 2019
The event, held in Porirua, raised over $5000 and the money will go to the Helping Hands group, which has been cooking and supporting families affected by measles at the main hospital Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.
The death toll from Samoa's measles outbreak remains at 70 as of Tuesday night - after no new fatalities were recorded over the previous 24 hours.
