Run for Pa‘a helps infant with heart defect Sunday

PO‘IPU — Runners wishing to help Baby Pa‘a Lee with his medical expenses are invited to join the second Run for Pa‘a event Sunday starting at 7:30 a.m. at The Shops at Kukui‘ula.

Entry fee for the run is just a donation. Additional funds will be earned through the prize drawings and t-shirt sales available at the event hosted by Sundey Dillberg, owner of O.F.F. Studio located in The Shops at Kukui‘ula.

Runners will leave The Shops at Kukui‘ula to the intersection of Koloa Road and return, greeted with donated beverages, snacks and fellowship.

Last year, more than 350 community members, visitors and family demonstrated their support for the infant by participating in the 5K event, which raised more than $8,500.

“The generosity and outpouring of community and visitor support last year was overwhelming,” Dillberg says in a release. “We hope to have similar success this year and have already received a number of prizes and financial support from local community businesses.”

Pa‘akamana‘o Matiu Lee was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome. His condition was undetected before birth and his family was shocked to find out something was wrong with the infant just 14 hours following his birth.

Pa‘a has two heart chambers instead of the normal four, the release states. Since his birth, he has undergone eight surgeries and his family is preparing for his second open-heart surgery in 2013.

For those who want to donate to help the infant, contributions are being accepted at www.s370374879.onlinehome.us/paa/prayforpaa.html. More information is also available at Friends of Pa‘akamana‘o on its Facebook page.

•Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.