By BRIDGET COOK
MAIMOAGA Sofara hopes that when she parts with her long locks this month she can show those battling cancer that they are not alone.
That is just one of the reasons why the Cranbourne West woman will be brave and shave her head on 15 March as part of the World’s Greatest Shave.
Ms Sofara said she decided to take part in the fundraiser for a number of reasons, including to honour her grandma who lost her fight against leukaemia in 2001.
“I am dedicating this shave to my late grandma Eni Sofara, a woman who was everything I aspire to be – gracious, intelligent, classy, headstrong, honest and loving,” she said.
“I also dedicate this to other beautiful, strong women who have lost their hair whilst battling other illnesses such as ovarian cancer, breast cancer and a brain tumor; women such as my aunty Tiana Lolesio, our family friend Helen Ford and our cousin Anna Faletuai.
“You all inspire me to want to be better, stronger and happier with the life I have been given.”
Ms Sofara said she also wanted to show women going through a similar battle that they are not alone in their daily struggles.
“If I am able to instil even just a glimmer of hope or a ray of happiness in the life of one person, then shaving my hair off is more than worth it,” she said.
“After all, losing my hair is my choice, where as those that suffer from these terminal illnesses do not have the luxury to choose to keep their hair or not.
“That being said, I just want to help those who are in need of support and assistance.”
Ms Sofara said she has set herself quite a high fundraising goal of $5000 and urged members of the community to support her in any way they could.
“Think of those who are battling this illness, then think of your own family and friends,” she said.
“If you and your family were in this situation and were battling this serious illness, how much would you want others to help?
“I always say to people who ask me how much they should donate, to give whatever they can because to me, no donation is too small or too large when it is given out of the goodness of someone’s heart.”
To help Ms Sofara reach her goal visit www.worldsgreatestshave.com and search her name in the sponsor section.
