Shave and wave to fight cancer

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 29 June 2018, 12:00AM

It is a shave and a wave for a good cause with the Minister for Education, Sports and Culture Loau Keneti Sio putting his hands up to support the Samoa Cancer Society.

The society kicked off its major fundraising initiative last night at the Taumeasina Island Resort to raise much needed funding to support its programmes and staff. 

Samoa Cancer Society C.E.O. Shelley Burich said it was the third time for them to host the fundraising event, where people pay $50 to sit in a chair to get their head shaved. The last one was held in 2015.

“It’s an event to have people show their support for people who are either fighting cancer, lost their lives to cancer and remember those who had survived cancer.

“So it’s a way of getting the community, individuals, business community and the government together to have fun and help fundraise for Samoa Cancer Society and its work.”

Loau went under the blade and got his head shaved last night as part of the fundraising initiative and will be joined by Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupai. 

When asked if the society had a fundraising target, Ms. Burich said normally people make a pledge at the event on how much money they will donate and then go through the exercise.

“However, what we do make and look forward to is what people pledge to fundraise so when the people come in and register for the head shave they pledge on how much money they want to pledge for themselves and so all that goes into the Samoa Cancer Society,” she said.

“So at the moment, the amount is $80,000 that’s being pledged and if we can bypass head shaves I’m sure it will either make the target or might have even be more than what we expected.

“So tonight we invited the Prime Minister to be the keynote address so the Acting Prime Minister is coming along Lautafi Purcell.

“There are two Cabinet Ministers but there’s only one that’s having his head shaved tonight and that is the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture because the other one, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupai is overseas but he will be doing his shaving tomorrow.

“Loau will be one of the first people in the wave, so we will be doing shaves and waves.

“If there’s an empty chair there will be a challenge to the public if anyone wants to buy that chair and shave their own hair, and the chair is $50.

All revenue generated at the fundraising event enables the society to continue its work as well as support its staff. 

Should you wish to support the work of the Samoa Cancer Society call +68523984 or email: [email protected]

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 29 June 2018, 12:00AM
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