Late last year I visited Nias to do two things. The first was to surf Lagundri Bay, a wave I've dreamt of since my teenage years, and the second thing was to help get the wheels in motion for a local medical centre, staffed by volunteer travellers.

There are no medical facilities close to Lagundri Bay, and as seen in the videos from the monster July swell, the consequences are very real when a proper swell hits the reef.

In the ten or so months since my trip there's been a lot of progress including the establishment of the non-for-profit organisation - Friends of Nias – as well as the establishment of a medical clinic with help from Revolution of Raffiel Surf Camp Nias.

The aim of the medical clinic is to provide free medical care to the local community, funded by charitable donations and by offering paid services to visiting surfers via their health insurance. A secondary aim of the clinic is to provide support to surfers from regions further afield such as the Telo, Banyaks, and Hinakos islands.

Friends of Nias will upskill a team of local doctors and nurses who will be engaged in running the clinic on a day-to-day basis, one of those being Fitria's (who was provided major eye surgery in Sydney last year) daughter Febri.

Below are some words from Febri who's currently studying nursing in Medan, supported by Friends of Nias.

My nick name is Febri. I live in a small island of North Sumatra, Indonesia, which name is Nias Island. I live in the simple, happy, and full of love family. My parents work as farmer. Work in the field everyday to fulfill our need and children education. It can’t be. The income from the field as a farmer most less than the need and education fee. When I was child, I dreamt become a nurse. Be a nurse can help the other people. Help and look after people who got sick is noble profession.

After graduating of Vocational High School, I would like to continue my study of Nursing. Unfortunately, it can’t be happen because our financial of family wasn’t enough. Additionally, my parents was getting sick. My father got back pain and my mother got eye left tumour. So, I and my brother work to fulfill our need in everyday. I have to stop to dream it. Love of God never ending in our life. Our family gets miracle of God. My mother disease had healing well and I got the chance to continue my study.

Through the gold chance, I would like the my dream become true. Be great nurse, help and look after the others, especially my parents. I hope I can get it.

To help raise funds for the establishment and running of the medical clinic, a fundraiser event has been organised at Long Reef Golf Club on Sydney's Northern Beaches on Friday the 5th of October.

The night includes full dinner and drinks along with special guests Dick Hoole and Thornton Fallander who filmed and starred in the classic surf film Storm Riders.

Swellnet's own Stu Nettle will interview Dick and Thornton as well as live music by ukulele band, The Fukers.

Prizes on the night include..

• One week's accomodation at a premier surf resort in Nias
• One of Mick Fanning's surfboards
• Surf photography package
• Surfing lessons package
• Golf day and more.

To be part of a special night, tickets can be bought here. The first twenty Swellnet ticket buyers will receive a free years subscription to Swellnet Pro.

If you can't make the night but would like to donate to a great cause click here.