A group of artists came together after tragically losing a friend, Lemisio Moana Tanielu Filipo, known as Nelu to raise funds to buy an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

They turned their grief into a meaningful mission to honour their late friend.

An automated external defibrillator is a small, easy-to-carry device that delivers an electric shock to the heart when it notices an irregular heartbeat. This shock aims to restore the heart's normal rhythm.

Nelu passed away in 2023 as a result of a heart attack while swimming at Palolo Deep in Vaiala, had there been a defibrillator in the ambulance that picked him up, he could still be alive today. Determined to create change, Raema Von Reiche and the group decided to fundraise for a defibrillator which is now on the island after numerous fundraising events.

"Nelu was one of our group of five artists, the others being Shona Woods, Elena Tusitala, Stasi Clark, and Joyita Tiumalu-Le-Mamea," said  Von Reiche.

"We had scheduled to Exhibit in Auckland, NZ, in August 2023 at the 'Upstairs Gallery' in the Waitakere Ranges. Unfortunately, a month before the exhibition, Lemisio suffered a heart attack," added Von Reiche.

The group decided to continue the exhibition after Nelu's passing with the first exhibition, called "O le Malaga" (the Samoan word for Journey), as a tribute to Nelu. The art reflected the powerful influences of legends, identity, experiences, and faith in their lives, often using repurposed materials.

"Nelu's art was carving old disused surfboards into beautiful masterpieces of decorative wall art. The collection of work journeyed from Samoa," said Von Reiche.

To further their fundraising efforts, the artists printed cards from their artwork, with the proceeds going towards the purchase of the defibrillator. 

“A total of NZD 470.00 was raised from the sale of cards from this exhibition,” revealed von Reiche. 

In October 2024, the group organised another exhibition called the "Manatunatu Exhibition," held at the Kumeu Art Gallery, North of Auckland. Once again, a tribute to Nelu was showcased, resulting in three donors funding the defibrillator. The remaining funds were allocated to raise awareness about heart health. 

Initially considering placing the defibrillator in an ambulance, they soon discovered that a batch of defibrillators from Australia had been donated to Samoa at the time.

"So then we said, we don't need to put it in an ambulance. Maybe we should put it at Mulinu'u at the Yacht Club because there is no defibrillator on the Mulinu'u Peninsula," said Von Reiche. 

"The decision was made due to the high-traffic areas at the Samoa Ministry of Justice and Courts, Parliament of Samoa, Lands and Titles, Samoa Broadcasting Corporation, Outrigger Canoe clubs, Sails restaurant and the Apia Yacht Club itself.  The next closest Defibrillator would be at FESA on Beach Road.

According to Von Reiche, there is no need for first-aid knowledge to operate the device.

The cost of an AED is roughly NZD$3,000.