Karl - [email protected]
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Dear family, friends and rugby enthusiasts,
Those of you who know me, know that I love rugby. I love coaching and watching rugby of all levels and caliber,and I especially love to play rugby. Whether it be practicing for my club team, Campion Grads, or playing high caliber with the Dog River Howlers or Prarie Fire, I love being on the field. I have been fortunate enough to play competitive rugby in Fiji, New Zealand and Canada and have always had great support from my coaches and team members and have played with many great players from around the world.
Growing up in the Fiji Islands, I learned to love rugby at an early age and have never stopped. I grew up on Koro Island which is one of the 150 islands that make up Fiji. My village, Nacamaki village, has a population of about 180 people and still to this day has no electricity, no running water and is only accessible by an eight hour boat ride. The islands of Fiji are known for their beauty, but it is also important to make people aware that Fiji is a developing country and over 80% of Fijian people live in poverty. Rugby is a beloved sport in Fiji, but it is not uncommon to see most players playing barefoot and to see team uniforms that are decades old due to the economic challenges of the country. I received my first pair of rugby shoes when I was 14 and I was lucky enough to make my village rugby team and go on to represent my island team, and Fiji, at higher levels, as well as embark on rugby at an international level. Even though I live in Canada now, I am a Fijian at heart and I will always be grateful for my Fijian roots. I am humbled by my upbringing in a country and village surrounded by poverty.
In December 2012, I will be traveling to my village in Fiji to visit my family. In support of the continued development of rugby in Fiji, and specifically of my village's rugby club, I have decided to fundraise in effort to buy a new set of jerseys for my village's rugby club. My goal is to raise enough money to buy a complete set of jerseys for 15's aside (which would also be used for 7's aside). The jerseys that the club is currently using are the same jerseys that I wore 9 years ago. I am grateful to the support that my village gave to me as I persued my rugby career and would like to show my appreciation by giving back to my community.
I am asking that anyone who loves rugby, and appreciates the continued development and support of rugby in developing and impoverished countries, to please support my fundraising efforts by making a donation. Any amount of donation would be greatly appreciated and I am thanking everyone in advance for their support. In my fundraising efforts, I will also be running a canteen at the Ryback 7's tournament held at the Regina Rugby Club on May 5th, 2012, so feel free to come out and support my endeavor at that time and watch some great rugby as well. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who you think might be interested in supporting me in my fundraising efforts.
Please contact me if you have any questions or comments and once again thank you in advance.
Peni Lutudromu
39 Dempsey Ave
Regina, Sk
S4T 7K8
(306) 586-7310
[email protected]