By Tupuola Terry Tavita

The 12-hour Manu Samoa radio-thon and telethon in both Samoa and American Samoa on Friday raised over WST$800,000.

According to the Samoa Rugby Union, over $700,000 was raised in Samoa while an estimated US$50,000 (WST$110,620) was collected in American Samoa.

“But that is just the first count, we’re still sorting out the pledges,” said SRU media officer Rulla Su’a.

A flurry of corporate lunches and corporate donations prior to the Friday event pulled in around US$1.5 million.

Funding from government, major sponsors and the International Board pulled in around $2 million.

But there is still some way to go to make up the shortfall to the ultimate goal of raising $6.5 million to send a fully prepared teal to New Zealand in four weeks.

The last fundraising event in Samoa, the SRU has revealed, is a corporate dinner scheduled for 27 August at Faleata Gym One. Tables of eight diners are going at $2000.

There is also a series of fundraising events by the Samoan community in New Zealand prior to Manu Samoa’s first-up game with Namibia on 10 September at Rotorua.

“But the committee in New Zealand will be organising those fundraising events,” said Ms Su’a.

A detailed account of how much funds have been collected so far would be realized by the end of the week, said SRU.

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