HELPING OUT: Good samaritans Dalea Shaw-Pokaia, Renee White and Andre Narbey. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 140314SP8
When Dalea Shaw-Pokaia read about the journey of Rotorua youngster Teimana Emery-Maaka she knew she had to do something to help.
So she did it in the best way she knew how - by organising an island luau night to raise money for Teimana's family as well as providing a
fun community event.
Teimana featured in the Rotorua Daily Post earlier this year after he was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease.
Symptoms of the rare disease include the loss of basic skills like sucking and head control, seizures and eventually organ complications. Teimana takes nine medicines each day and doctors have given him a life expectancy of one to two years, although there is a chance he may make it to his teens.
Ms Shaw-Pokaia said she had got together with one of Teimana's relatives, Renee White, to come up with the latest fundraiser after reading the interview in the paper with Teimana's mother Levi Emery.
